Bridge Work Prompts Traffic Impacts At I-66, Beltway Interchange

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Overhead bridge work will prompt lane closures, traffic stoppages, and ramp closures at the Interstate 66 and Capital Beltway interchange Friday night and Saturday night.

The traffic impacts are part of continued bridge beam installation at the interchange as part of the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Project, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation. Southbound I-495 and westbound I-66 will be reduced to a single travel lane approaching the I-66/I-495 interchange each night.

Southbound I-495 between Route 7 and I-66 will be down to one travel lane on Friday, April 30 and Saturday, May 1 from 10:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. Periodic stoppages up to 20 minutes will happen each night.

Around 11:30 p.m., all southbound I-495 traffic will be shifted to southbound 495 Express Lanes for a short distance before returning to the regular lanes. Drivers will not be charged for using Express Lanes for this detour.

Southbound 495 Express Lanes approaching I-66 will be closed nightly from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Overhead signs will direct drivers to an alternate route.

Westbound I-66 will also be reduced to a single travel lane nightly from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. The ramp from westbound I-66 to southbound I-495 will be closed from 11:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Traffic will be directed to continue west to Nutley Street. Drivers should stay left on the exit ramp, turn left onto southbound Nutley Street, and stay to the left and turn left onto eastbound I-66. From there, drivers should follow signs to southbound I-495.

Brief stoppages will also occur on the eastbound and westbound I-66 ramps to the southbound Express Lanes.

All lanes will reopen by 5 a.m. Work is weather dependent and will be rescheduled in the case of inclement weather.

VDOT is adding several new ramps and connections at the I-66/I-495 interchange. This will add access between the existing 495 Express Lanes and the new I-66 Express Lanes, as between Express Lanes and regular lanes. The new Express Lanes are expected to open in December 2022.