Some 25,000 motorists who use the Route 199 corridor in James City County and Williamsburg can now take full advantage of a smoother and less congested roadway.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), Route 199 construction crews and local officials joined the community Oct. 21 to plant fringe trees at the entrance to Route 359 in Jamestown and to celebrate completion of Route 199 corridor improvements. The project was completed on-budget and 71 days ahead of schedule.

Rather than hosting a traditional ribbon-cutting, officials planted two fringe trees at the intersection of the Colonial Parkway and Route 359 near the Jamestown Settlement earlier this morning. The tree marks the gateway to historic Jamestown and serves as a reminder of the partnerships that helped make the project a success. The fringe tree is the official tree of the Jamestown 2007 commemoration.

Jamestown 2007 Corridor Constructors LLC began work on the $31.8 million Route 199 project in February 2003 under the Public-Private Transportation Act (PPTA) of Virginia. Nearly five miles long, the road expands Route 199, the outer loop around Williamsburg, to four lanes. Traffic flow was also improved at the intersection of Route 31. Additionally, Route 359 access to the Colonial Parkway, Jamestown Settlement and Jamestown Island was relocated. Work was officially completed Sept. 19.

“The Route 199 PPTA is an excellent example of a project where VDOT, the contractors and the localities worked very well together to deliver a first-class project to our customers,” said David A. Steele, P.E., area construction engineer for VDOT’s Hampton Roads district.

Gary Massie of Jack L. Massie Contractor Inc., one of three contractors that make up the Jamestown Corridor Constructors, said, “The team members assembled by Jamestown 2007 Corridor Constructors LLC were responsible for design, permitting, right of way, utility relocation, construction, quality assurance and control inspection. Combining all disciplines under one organization allowed for rapid response and an attention to detail that insured coordination and allowed for early completion of each segment.”

The Jamestown 2007 Corridor Constructors consists of Jack Massie Contractor Inc., Curtis Contracting Inc. and Bryant Contracting Inc.

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