Starting last night, Friday, June 27, crews began to implement the first of two traffic shifts of all four lanes on southbound I-495 (Beltway Outer Loop) within the I-495 Express Lanes Northern Extension (495 NEXT) project area. This first phase shifts southbound I-495 lanes from just north of George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP) to just south of Georgetown Pike onto newly constructed lanes on the outer section of the highway. Work began Friday night, with all southbound lanes in this section of the Beltway reopened in their new alignment by 10 a.m. this morning (Saturday, June 28). Delays extended onto I-270 in Maryland.
Per VDOT: Following this traffic shift, drivers will use two separate exits from southbound I-495 to access Exit 43 for GWMP and Exit 44 for Georgetown Pike. Instead of using the collector-distributor road that begins just south of the American Legion Bridge, motorists will have two unique exit points directly from southbound I-495 for GWMP and Georgetown Pike.
The second phase of shifting the southbound Beltway lanes to the new outer alignment is scheduled to occur as early as Friday night, July 11, and involves the section of Beltway from south of Georgetown Pike to north of the Dulles Corridor Interchange near Old Dominion Drive. Both of these traffic shifts are necessary for crews to access the center portion of the Beltway to build the new 495 Express Lanes.
What drivers can expect during first of two traffic shifts on southbound I-495 (Outer Loop) (scheduled for Friday night, June 27, through Saturday morning, June 28):
- Traffic on all four general-purpose lanes of southbound I-495 from just north of GWMP to just south of Georgetown Pike will be shifted onto new lanes built on the outer side of the Beltway.
- Implementation of this traffic shift will entail a single mobile lane closure beginning at 8 p.m. on Friday night, a second lane closing at 9 p.m., and three total lanes being closed by 10 p.m., on southbound I-495 between approximately GWMP and Lewinsville Road.
- One southbound lane on I-495 will remain open to traffic, except when intermittent total traffic stoppages and/or slow-roll traffic operations occur between midnight and 5 a.m. Police will be on hand to assist with directing motorists.
- Lanes will begin to reopen at 6 a.m. on Saturday, June 28, with all four southbound lanes in the affected area in their new alignment by 10 a.m.
- Additionally, the ramps from southbound I-495 to GWMP (Exit 43) and Georgetown Pike (Exit 44), the ramp from GWMP to southbound I-495, and the ramp from Georgetown Pike to southbound I-495 will be closed and detoured from 10 p.m. Friday until 5 a.m. Saturday.
- If rescheduled for Saturday night, lane closures will begin at 8 p.m., with all lanes reopened in their new alignment by 10 a.m., Sunday.
- If rescheduled for Sunday night, lane closures will begin at 8 p.m., with all lanes reopened in their new alignment by no later than 6 a.m., Monday.
Once both traffic shifts are completed on southbound I-495, crews will work in the center area of the Beltway to construct the new express lanes. Construction activities will include:
- Demolishing old piers in the highway median for the replaced bridges at Live Oak Drive, Georgetown Pike and Old Dominion Drive
- Constructing new ramps
- Demolishing retired center lane pavement
- Installing new stormwater drainage
- Installing new tolling and traffic management system infrastructure
- Building the foundation, paving and striping the new express lanes
Northbound I-495 lanes within the 495 NEXT project area were shifted to the new outer section of the Beltway in May.
Motorists are urged to slow down, eliminate distractions and drive with heightened caution as they acclimate to the newly aligned Beltway lanes, and as work ramps up in the center area of the roadway. As construction continues in this portion of I-495, travelers should expect narrowed lanes and shoulders, traffic pattern adjustments and lane closures during non-peak travel times.
The new 495 Express Lanes remain on track to open late this year, extending the existing 14-mile 495 Express Lanes from near the Dulles Corridor Interchange to the GWMP in proximity of the American Legion Bridge. New ramps will provide express lanes access at Dulles Toll Road and GWMP.
The remainder of the project, including completion of a new bike and pedestrian trail and a new parking area for Scott’s Run Nature Preserve, is scheduled to be completed in mid-2026.
All work is weather dependent and may be rescheduled if necessary.