WASHINGTON — Commuters who use George Washington Memorial Parkway may notice more traffic during the morning and evening rush hours starting June 10.
The National Park Service announced Tuesday plans to extend a three-lane traffic pattern for the parkway that will cause two lanes to carry traffic southbound toward D.C. during morning rush hour. Two lanes will then carry traffic northbound toward Maryland during the evening rush hour.
NPS says this traffic pattern allows the project contractor greater access to the roadway, which will reduce the time needed to complete the project. The traffic pattern will run from the Route 123 interchange to Windy Run Bridge as part of the ongoing North Parkway Rehabilitation Project.
The project, made possible with funds from the Great American Outdoors Act, aims to improve safety, the driving experience and water drainage while retaining and reviving the historic beauty and significance of the parkway.
NPS will temporarily close the right northbound lane from Route 123 to the Windy Run Bridge during this transition. Drivers are urged to follow traffic signs and respect the 40-mph speed limit.
Crews will begin to shift traffic following the evening rush hour on June 9 and expect to have the new pattern in place by the evening of Saturday, June 10. NPS expects the three-lane traffic pattern from Windy Run Bridge to I-495 to be in effect through late 2025.
Weekday morning rush hour (5:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.)
- Two lanes southbound (toward Washington, DC).
- Drivers who need to exit at Route 123 or CIA Headquarters must use the right lane.
- One lane northbound (toward Maryland/Virginia).
Weekday evening rush hour (2:45 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.)
- Two lanes northbound (toward Maryland/Virginia).
- Drivers who need to exit at Route 123, CIA Headquarters or towards Maryland must use the right lane.
- Drivers who need to exit towards Virginia on I-495 must use the left lane.
- One lane southbound (toward Washington, DC).
Weekdays (9:30 a.m. – 2:45 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. - 5:30 a.m.) and weekends
- One lane southbound (toward Washington, DC).
- One lane northbound (toward Maryland/Virginia).
Crews have installed a temporary lane in the median of George Washington Memorial Parkway between I-495 and the Route 123 interchange, to serve as a reversible lane.