Fast, reliable & cost effective Equipment Transport

Plan your runs with clearer timing and routes. Recent agency reports note recurring overnight triple lane closures and intermittent traffic stoppages between the American Legion Memorial Bridge and the Dulles Corridor Interchange. Nightly ramp closures affect the northbound GWMP to southbound mainline and the eastbound DTR/DAAH to northbound ramps.

Daytime flagging on Live Oak Drive and Balls Hill Road and single-lane night closures on Georgetown Pike can change travel windows. Southbound lanes have shifted onto newly built pavement near GWMP to free the median for the express lanes extension.

This brief helps professional drivers and dispatchers spot patterns of lane closures and detours. We summarize when closures occur, which ramps see detours, and the typical time frames so fleets can reduce delays and improve on-time performance.

Overnight lane closures and stoppages near the American Legion Bridge intensify this week

Nighttime operations at the American Legion span will bring extended lane restrictions and periodic stoppages.

Starting on or about Monday night, Aug. 18, expect triple lane closures in both directions between the american legion bridge and the Dulles Corridor Interchange. Work runs roughly 9:30 p.m. to 5 a.m., Monday–Saturday, for about two weeks.

Traffic pacing and intermittent stoppages of up to 30 minutes will occur between midnight and 5 a.m. Night crews will also close the northbound george washington Memorial Parkway to southbound ramp nightly, 10 p.m.–5 a.m., for the same period.

On eastbound DTR/DAAH, crews plan multiple overnights of milling and paving with a ramp closure to northbound. Schedules are weather-dependent and may shift to the next night.

“Plan alternate connections and add buffer time for early deliveries; night work in this corridor often stacks through the same time window.”

• Expect layered work zones and nightly ramp detours.
• Watch for single-lane nights on georgetown pike and daytime flagging on nearby local roads.

Big rig delays from I-495 Washington DC beltway construction: what drivers should expect

Temporary lane geometry and barrier placements near the George Washington parkway are producing one-lane sections that require extra caution.

One-lane bottlenecks are appearing at key merge points, notably just past Exit 43 on the GW Parkway. Narrowed shoulders and barriers compress large vehicles and make merges harder.

One-lane bottlenecks and narrowed shoulders through work zones near Georgetown Pike and GW Parkway

Expect single-lane segments on and near Georgetown Pike that shift as crews set barriers. Maintain wider gaps and pick lane positions early to reduce the chance of a sudden maneuver.

Police-directed stoppages and slower travel times during late-night and early-morning windows

Between midnight and 5 a.m., police may direct short stoppages during southbound shifts. These pauses can extend your a.m. arrival, so add buffer time when routing drivers.

“Plan extra margin for merges and expect rolling changes over the coming weeks.”

• Watch for changing signs and rolling closures.
• Slow through temporary alignments to protect equipment and brakes.
• Tell dispatch and customers about likely timing impacts.

Detours, ramp changes, and safer alternatives to keep freight moving

Approaching Exit 43, you may encounter concrete barriers and a tight ramp that funnels traffic into a one-lane stretch on the George Washington Parkway. Slow earlier, widen your turning path, and confirm your exit choice before the split.

Temporary narrowing and split exits

After the southbound realignment, access now splits into separate exits for the parkway and Georgetown Pike. Choose your ramp early to avoid last-second lane changes.

Off-peak windows and high-intensity nights

For smoother travel, run after 5 a.m. and avoid 9 p.m.–5 a.m. when nightly lane closures often occur. On wednesday night or other intense periods, build extra buffer time.

Route planning near local flagging

Daytime flagging on Live Oak Drive and Balls Hill Road and night single-lane work on Georgetown Pike can force short detours. Use alternate arterials when feasible.

• Assign experienced drivers for constrained geometry and night work.
• Tell customers about time windows to protect delivery time.

Project milestones, timelines, and what’s next for the 495 NEXT express lanes

Crews have shifted southbound traffic onto fresh pavement so work can move into the center median. That change is a key milestone that keeps general-purpose traffic flowing while opening the median for heavy tasks.

Southbound shift and immediate effects

The southbound lanes in McLean now run on newly built pavement north of the GW Parkway to south of Georgetown Pike. That move closed three lanes temporarily during the transition and created separate exits for the parkway and Georgetown Pike.

Key tasks ahead

• Demolish old median bridge piers (Live Oak Drive, Georgetown Pike, Old Dominion Drive).
• Build new ramps and remove retired center pavement to clear the median for the express lanes extension.
• Install stormwater drainage, tolling gantries, and traffic management systems, then pave and stripe final lanes.

Timeline and routing notes

VDOT targets express lanes operations by the end of 2025 with full project completion in 2026. Expect occasional short closures tied to demolition and ramp ties, especially near Georgetown Pike and the American Legion Bridge. Verify inner loop exit choices; these changes are a critical point for route planning.

“This phase consolidates heavy work in the median to limit long-term disruption.”

Staying ahead of closures: real-time updates to minimize your morning and night travel impacts

,Subscribe to official project emails and corridor alerts so you get timely updates before you roll.

Keep dispatchers and drivers aligned with nightly advisories. Weather can shift a p.m. plan into the a.m. window, so check updates the day of travel.

Use live traffic tools and confirm a ramp’s status when a move is critical. Rotate routes over weeks to reduce repeated exposure to active work zones.

Quick tip: sign up for real-time alerts to cut surprises and protect schedules — learn where to get alerts on the official page: real-time updates and road restrictions.