Traffic patterns on the George Washington Parkway (GWMP) leading to southbound I-495 and Georgetown Pike Exit 44 will see a change starting this Friday morning, April 11. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has announced that the collector ramp will be realigned between 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 10, and 5:00 a.m. the following day. The newly aligned ramp will run parallel to southbound I-495, aiming to enhance merging for drivers and adapt to the wider Beltway necessary for the 495 Express Lanes Northern Extension.
The updated traffic pattern will guide drivers exiting northwest GWMP onto a new dedicated ramp on the Beltway’s outer edge. Those continuing on southbound I-495 will merge into the roadway just south of the Georgetown Pike Bridge from the ramp’s right lane. Meanwhile, drivers heading to Georgetown Pike (Exit 44) will stay in the left lane to exit.
During the implementation, between 9:30 p.m. Thursday and 5:00 a.m. Friday, a temporary complete traffic stop for up to thirty minutes will occur after midnight. This pause will allow the opening of the new ramp and the closure of the existing slip ramp. Following the stoppage, a slow-roll operation will guide traffic onto the new pavement.
A second shift is planned for the night of Tuesday, April 15, affecting southbound I-495 traffic on the collector road. Post-move, the traffic to Georgetown Pike will require a left exit while southbound I-495 will require a right exit, reversing the current flow.
Motorists are urged to exercise caution and adhere to road signage during this adjustment period. Work schedules may change in case of adverse weather or delays. For updates, drivers can access information online, via the free 511Virginia mobile app, or by calling 511 in Virginia.
Additional construction and lane closure information can be found on the website 495next.vdot.virginia.gov.
