Crews will begin temporary traffic changes on the ramp from northbound I-495 to southbound George Washington Memorial Parkway in McLean starting on or about Wednesday night, July 30. The work is part of the I-495 Express Lanes Northern Extension (495 NEXT) project.
According to officials, by Thursday morning, July 31, the ramp will be shifted and narrowed to one lane through the merge point from the Beltway to the Parkway. This configuration is expected to remain until about mid-September as construction continues.
To start the ramp extension, workers will install a roughly 600-foot jersey barrier at the junction of the current ramp. After installation, the ramp will be shifted by about 600 feet and narrowed from 12 feet to 11 feet wide, allowing only one lane of traffic. Once vehicles merge onto the Parkway, they will continue in a single lane for approximately a quarter mile before returning to two lanes.
During weekday peak hours until around August 11, a second lane on southbound GWMP toward Washington, D.C., will be available from 5:30-9:30 a.m., but this additional lane will not provide access to local exits. After August 11, only one lane will remain open until ramp extension work is finished.
The planned extension of this ramp by about 800 feet aims to accommodate a future new northbound express lanes ramp and improve merging transitions from I-495 to GWMP.
Work is scheduled overnight between 10 p.m. Wednesday, July 30 and 5 a.m. Thursday, July 31. During this time, ramps from both northbound and southbound I-495 to GWMP (Exit 43) will close with detours via Georgetown Pike and Dolley Madison Boulevard provided for drivers.
“All work is weather dependent and may be rescheduled if necessary. Drivers are urged to use caution and expect potential delays if traveling through this area,” officials stated.
Traffic updates and information on work zones can be found at https://511.vdot.virginia.gov/, through the free mobile app or by calling 511 in Virginia anywhere anytime. Further details about construction schedules are available at https://495next.vdot.virginia.gov/.
