Major Capital Beltway Outer Loop Closures June 22-25, 2012

Weather permitting, the Woodrow Wilson Project is planning to shift the THRU/LOCAL split on the Capital Beltway Outer Loop (I-95/495 North) this weekend, June 22-25, to just west of the Eisenhower Connector, after the Van Dorn exit in Virginia, to allow for final paving of the Outer Loop THRU and LOCAL lanes. This work is anticipated to cause major traffic back-ups on the Outer Loop over the weekend, and motorists are advised to “STAY AWAY” and find alternate routes.

The work will proceed as follows:

Friday night, June 22 from 9 p.m. until Monday morning, June 25 at 5 a.m.:

The Outer Loop THRU lanes will close, and the LOCAL lanes between Van Dorn Street and just after Telegraph Road will be reduced to one lane. All Outer Loop traffic will be routed onto this single lane for the duration of the weekend, and significant back-ups are expected. To ease congestion, the ramp from I-95 North to the Outer Loop (495 East) will be closed during the daytime on Saturday and Sunday from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m., and all northbound I-95 traffic will be routed onto the Inner Loop (495 West) over the American Legion Bridge. Motorists may also continue onto I-395 North. Finally, the on-ramp from the Eisenhower Connector to the Outer Loop will be closed from June 22 until July 30.

Monday, June 25 at 5 a.m. until July 30:

The Outer Loop THRU lanes will be open and be in their final configuration. Motorists should be advised of the new Outer Loop split location, as they will need to decide earlier whether to use the THRU or LOCAL lanes to reach their destination. Motorists will be restricted to one Outer Loop LOCAL lane from the split to just past Telegraph Road until approximately July 30, when all lanes reopen in their final configuration. This work is expected to cause significant back-ups for Beltway and local traffic through the month of July, and motorists are strongly advised to use the Outer Loop THRU lanes or seek alternate routes to avoid delays. Only motorists who need to access Telegraph Road, U.S. Route 1 or I-295/National Harbor should use the single LOCAL lane; all other travelers are advised to use the THRU lanes, which will be able to exit at the MD 210 interchange.

This will be the last Beltway construction effort by the Project, and once complete, will resolve the “bottleneck” of lanes approaching the Wilson Bridge from Virginia.