The conceptual design of a a new $300 million interchange and parkway from Interstate 95 to State Route 3 in Spotsylvania County wasn't very popular at an information session last night.

"This isn't going anywhere," said Stan Huie, who lives near where the parkway would go.

He and Spotsylvania Supervisor-elect David Ross think the project would be too expensive and have minimal impact.

"I drive this every day," said Ross, whose opposition to the interchange and parkway plan was a key part of his successful campaign against incumbent Jerry Logan in November's election. "I'm not really convinced this will answer the problem."

Ross said "not one" person he has talked to about the plan has liked it.

He and others got a chance last night to see the plans during a public information session held by the Virginia Department of Transportation. Several dozen people attended the two-hour event at Salem Church Library.

The public comment meeting was part of a study under way to determine what can be done to fix traffic problems along and around Interstate 95 between State Route 3 in Spotsylvania and U.S. 17 in Stafford.

Nicholas Nies, VDOT's project manager, said the agency will take into account what residents have to say, from comments last night as well as any sent to VDOT by Dec. 26. He said the conceptual design is flexible, and added that it is possible it may never come to fruition.

VDOT and the Federal Highway Administration are conducting the current study, which will take about a year.

The preferred solution at this point is the controversial interchange, which would put a new I-95 exit at the Welcome Center/rest area and connect to what would be called the Rappahannock Parkway.

The four- to six-lane parkway would be an express route from I-95 to Route 3 at Gordon Road, bypassing heavily congested parts of Route 3 around Central Park and Spotsylvania Towne Centre. There would be no traffic signals except at an intersection in Celebrate Virginia.

The parkway could require a toll, but would be free for high-occupancy vehicles.