Two separate Route 17 traffic improvement projects were recently advertised to potential bidders—but the bids opened were not acceptable because they were well over cost estimates, according to Kelly Hannon, communications manager for the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Fredericksburg District.

VDOT officials have yet to determine how they will proceed with the projects. This was the third time they had been advertised for bids. Both projects were originally advertised to potential bidders on June 28, 2016, but neither project drew any bids.

Consequently, the projects were advertised again last August. There was one bid but it was over the cost estimate, Hannon said.

The projects were advertised for the third time, she said, and the bids opened in December were found, once again, unacceptable.

Hannon said the two projects are planned to improve traffic signal operations and traffic flow along Route 17 (George Washington Memorial Highway) in Gloucester. One proje...