Capital Beltway Inner Loop Lane Shift To Occur February 26-27

(Friday) February 26, 2010

I-95/495 South Lane and Ramp Closures between Eisenhower Metro Overpass and Beltway bridge over Cameron Run Expected to Cause Traffic Delays; Motorists Should Take Alternate Routes

Motorists traveling on Interstate 95/495 South (the Inner Loop of the Capital Beltway) should prepare for minor traffic impacts the night of Friday, February 26, into Saturday, February 27, as the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project plans to shift lanes and close ramps between the Eisenhower Metro Overpass and the Beltway bridge over Cameron Run. The shift will allow crews to prepare for upcoming construction in the Telegraph Road corridor of the Capital Beltway.

Weather permitting, starting after rush hour on February 26, crews will smoothly transition traffic from two THRU and two LOCAL lanes in this corridor of the Inner Loop to three lanes. The current right-most lane will become an exit ramp prior to the Beltway bridge over Cameron Run.  Work will be completed by the following afternoon.

The specific schedule for the planned shift is as follows:

• Starting after rush hour on Friday, February 26, crews will close exits from the Inner Loop to Telegraph Road South, from Telegraph Road South to the Inner Loop, and from Telegraph Road North to the Inner Loop.  The right-most THRU and LOCAL lanes will also be closed just west of the Metro overpass, with left lanes remaining open.
• On Friday night, the right-most THRU and LOCAL lanes will remain closed, reducing traffic to two lanes. Crews will relocate barriers and place new striping in the area.
• On Saturday afternoon, traffic will be fully diverted to the new configuration, which will comprise of three lanes of traffic on the Inner Loop and an enter/exit lane. The exit and on-ramps to and from Telegraph Road will reopen.

Traffic analysis predicts that motorists can expect minor traffic impacts. Motorists are urged to avoid this part of the Beltway on Friday evening, February 26 and Saturday day, February 27, or seek alternate routes to their destinations to avoid delays.  Overhead and variable message signs (VMS) will alert motorists to the shift activities.

All plans are subject to weather delays up to and through the planned shift date.  If weather does not permit the Inner Loop shift to begin the evening of February 26, the rain date is to begin work on Saturday, February 27 and finish the afternoon of Sunday, February 28.

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