Full Westbound I-66 Closure Planned Nights At Beltway Interchange

VIENNA, VA — The westbound direction of Interstate 66 will be fully closed at the Beltway interchange over three upcoming nights, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation. A closure of the northbound I-495 Express Lanes and lane closures on northbound I-495 are also planned.

All westbound I-66 lanes will be closed nightly from Oct. 12 to 14 between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. The closure will happen beyond Route 7 toward the I-495 interchange. Traffic will be detoured to westbound Route 7 to southbound I-495 and back to westbound I-66. Each night, two lanes of westbound I-66 will close at 9 p.m., but the full closure will start at 11 p.m.

The ramp from northbound I-495 to westbound I-66 will also be closed from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. nightly from Oct. 12 to 14. Traffic will follow the detour to westbound Route 7 to southbound I-495 and westbound I-66.

To the south of the interchange, northbound I-495 between Lee Highway and I-66 will have two lanes closed nightly starting at 9 p.m. from Oct. 12 to 14. From 10:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. nightly, the northbound direction will have only one lane open. Drivers should also expect brief, periodic stoppages during overnight hours.

The other major impact is the closure of the northbound -495 Express Lanes from the beginning of the Express Lanes in Springfield to I-66. The lanes will be closed nightly from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. from Oct. 12 to 14. Overhead message boards will direct traffic to alternate routes.

The closures are due to continued bridge beam installation at the I-66/495 interchange for the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Project. The interchange will have several new ramps and connections, including access to and from the new I-66 Express Lanes. The new Express Lanes between I-495 and University Boulevard in Gainesville are expected to open in late 2022.