Beltway Express Lanes Extension Starts Construction In Northern Virginia

MCLEAN, VA — Construction on a 2.5-mile extension of the Capital Beltway toll lanes in Northern Virginia will begin in 2022 after a groundbreaking Monday.

The project, plan as 495 NEXT (Northern Extension), will extend Interstate 495 Express Lanes between the Dulles Toll Road/Access Road and the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Fairfax County. Existing I-495 Express Lanes run from Springfield to the Dulles Toll Road.

The lanes will be operated by Transurban, a private company that operates the current I-495, I-95 and I-395 Express Lanes. Maryland is preparing its own project to rebuild the American Legion Bridge and adding Express Lanes on a portion of I-495 and I-270 in Montgomery County.

"The 495 NEXT project represents the Commonwealth’s commitment to improving regional infrastructure and traffic flow for Virginians, our visitors, and the broader business community," said Governor Glenn Youngkin in a statement. "Together with our partners from the public and private sectors, we are prioritizing investments in Virginia’s transportation network to keep people, goods, and our economy moving."

Tolled Express Lanes will be added in each direction of I-495 in the project area. The 495 NEXT project will also add new connections at the Dulles roads and George Washington Memorial Parkway interchanges, replace or renovate seven bridges, replace nine noise walls, add one new noise wall along Live Oak Drive, add four miles of bicyclist and pedestrian connections, and provide funding for new American Legion Bridge bus service between Virginia and Maryland. The project will also fund restoration of the stream at Scott's Run and add stormwater management facilities, which are not present in this area of I-495.

Bridge replacements with sidewalks, bike lanes and crossings include Old Dominion Road, Georgetown Pike, Live Oak Drive, and Lewinsville Road. A shared-use path will run parallel to I-495 from Lewinsville Road to near Live Oak Drive and connect to existing facilities leading to Tysons. North of Live Oak Drive, the path would be constructed to connect to Maryland's proposed American Legion Bridge/I-495/I-270 project.

Officials believe the Express Lanes extension will cut travel times for Express Lanes users by up to 50 percent and limit cut-through traffic in residential areas. The lanes will be free for HOV users with three or more people and an EZ Pass Flex set to HOV mode.

Full relief at the bottleneck area of I-495 over American Legion Bridge will be dependent on Maryland progressing its own project.

"I speak with Gov. [Larry] Hogan frequently about their side of this project, and I can tell you they are committed to getting it done to fully unlocking the 495 corridor," Youngkin said at the groundbreaking. "This is something we must do together, and our administration is speaking with the Maryland counterparts."

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said the 495 Next project will reduce cut-through traffic in McLean and Great Falls neighborhoods that resulted from Tysons commercial growth. The chairman also highlighted plans for transit across the bridge, which an estimated 170,000 people could use per year.

"Equally critical is the transit component. Today, there are zero buses that use the American Legion Bridge, and as a result of this project we know that there will be major bus service that will be stood up connecting Virginia and Maryland for the first time in a meaningful way in this corridor," McKay said at the groundbreaking.

The 495 NEXT construction groundbreaking follows a comprehensive agreement for the project between the Virginia Department of Transportation and Transurban in October 2021. Transurban announced Lane Construction as the design-build contractor. In July 2021, the project received federal approvals for the environmental analysis, allowing it to proceed to design and construction.

Crews will start with early field activities such as surveying while project design details are finalized. Full construction activities could start as early as the summer. A public meeting will be planned in spring before full construction starts. The Express Lanes extension is expected to open in 2025.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• I-495 NEXT Project Clear To Advance To Design, Construction
• Contractor For 495 NEXT Express Lanes Project Chosen
• Toll Lanes Won't Help Regular Lane Drivers At Evening Peak: MD Study