Woodrow Wilson Bridge construction project engineers expect 10- to 15-mile backups and 60- to 90-minute delays Saturday afternoon, July 16, on the outer loop of the Capital Beltway/Interstate 95 North, outside Washington, D.C.
Only one lane out of three will be available between the Route 1 interchange and the Wilson Bridge in Alexandria, Va, from 8 p.m. Friday, July 15, to 5 a.m. Monday, July 18.
This is a very high-traffic area that sees as many as 17,000 big rigs pass through daily, the American Trucking Associations estimates.
“Motorists will do themselves a big favor by regarding the Wilson Bridge Project area and northbound I-95 approaching the Beltway as a ‘no-go’ zone this weekend,” said Ronaldo Nicholson, the Virginia Department of Transportation project manager.
Ramps from north and southbound Route 1 to the Outer Loop, and from the Outer Loop to northbound Route 1, will be closed. Traffic will be detoured to the Telegraph Road Interchange.
To help divert I-95 northbound traffic through the Washington area, the Springfield Interchange ramp from I-95 north will be closed. Local traffic will be directed to I-395 and the 14th Street Bridge, while long-distance travelers will be routed around the Beltway across the American Legion Bridge.
On another weekend yet to be decided, the inner loop will get the same treatment as the outer loop, causing similar traffic woes for I-95 traffic approaching from Maryland.
This section of highway is getting a safety makeover, including new guardrails, lighting and high-visibility pavement markers. Most importantly, crews need the weekend to layer the 16 to 24 inches of asphalt paving required to bank turns more safely.
For more information, call 877-959-5222 or go to www.wilsonbridge.com.
