495 Express Lane Extension In McLean To Be Detailed At Meeting

MCLEAN, VA—Earlier this year, the state announced the Interstate 495 (Capital Beltway) Express Lanes will be extended from Dulles Toll Road to the American Legion Bridge in the McLean area. The Virginia Department of Transportation will detail the plans at an upcoming meeting Monday, May 20 from 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. at Cooper Middle School, 977 Balls Hill Road, McLean.

The plan calls for a three-mile extension of the Express Lanes. Each direction will have four regular lanes and two new Express Lanes. The extension will have direct connections to the George Washington Memorial Parkway and Dulles Toll Road. 495 Express Lanes are operated by Transurban, which also operates 395 and 95 Express Lanes. Officials have said the extension aims to reduce congestion and cut-through traffic on local McLean streets.

The meeting will focus on VDOT's environmental study for the 495 Express Lanes Northern Extension project. The study will detail conditions and potential effects the proposed improvements may have on air quality, noise, neighborhoods, parks, recreation areas, historic properties, wetlands and streams and other resources. The study began in April 2018 and is expected to be completed in late Spring 2019. A project webpage has been created at 495northernextension.org.

Comments on the environmental study for the Express Lanes extension will be accepted through June 10. Submit comments by mail to Abi Lerner, P.E., Virginia Department of Transportation, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030, or email to 495NorthernExtension@VDOT.virginia.gov with subject line "I-495 Express Lanes Northern Extension Study."

Maryland is conducting its own study for Interstate 495 and 270 Express Lanes. The project website is 495-270-p3.com.