On or about May 1, changes will take place affecting southbound I-495 traffic at the Georgetown Pike exit. Traffic will shift onto a newly aligned ramp located on the outer edge of the Beltway, running parallel to southbound I-495 between George Washington Memorial Parkway and Georgetown Pike. Following this shift, vehicles will enter the new ramp alignment just past Exit 43 for GWMP and then exit left to access Georgetown Pike (Exit 44).
This newly aligned ramp, which opened on April 18, is designed for GWMP traffic entering southbound I-495 or exiting at Georgetown Pike. Drivers heading towards Georgetown Pike should use the left lanes of the ramp to reach the exit, while those continuing on southbound I-495 must merge onto I-495 just south of the Georgetown Pike Bridge.
The ramp change aims to improve merging operations for drivers entering and exiting the Beltway. It also supports the expansion needed for the 495 Express Lanes Northern Extension.
During the transition period from May 1 at 9:30 p.m. to May 2 at 5 a.m., the ramp from the southbound I-495 collector road to Georgetown Pike will be closed. Motorists will need to continue south to Exit 46B for northbound Route 123, take the exit for northbound I-495, and return to Georgetown Pike via Exit 44. Similarly, the ramp from northwest GWMP to southbound I-495 will be closed. Drivers will be redirected northbound on I-495 toward Maryland, take Exit 41 for westbound Clara Barton Parkway, exit to Carderock, and merge back onto southbound I-495 toward Virginia.
Drivers on the southbound I-495 collector road taking Exit 43 for GWMP will not be affected by this traffic shift. Motorists are encouraged to use caution and follow road signs to adjust to these new patterns.
Weather conditions or other delays could cause work to be rescheduled. For live updates, travelers can use the VA 511 online platform or mobile app, or call 511 within Virginia. More construction details can be found at the VDOT’s website for the 495 Express Lanes Northern Extension project.
