NEWS RELEASE

495NEXT.vdot.virginia.gov

April 30, 2025

FAIRFAX, VA – On or about Thursday night, May 1, southbound I-495 (Capital Beltway Outer Loop) traffic traveling on the Exit 44 collector road to Georgetown Pike is scheduled to be shifted onto a new ramp alignment. The new ramp alignment is located on the outer edge of the Beltway and runs parallel to southbound I-495 between George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP) and Georgetown Pike. Following the traffic shift, southbound I-495 Exit 44 collector road traffic will enter the new ramp alignment just after Exit 43 for GWMP, and will exit left to access Georgetown Pike (Exit 44).

The newly aligned ramp opened on Friday morning, April 18, for GWMP traffic entering southbound I-495 or exiting at Georgetown Pike. GWMP drivers continuing to southbound I-495 now must stay in the right lane of the ramp and merge onto I-495 just south of the Georgetown Pike Bridge and motorists heading to Georgetown Pike (Exit 44) now remain in the left lanes of the ramp to reach the exit.

Overall, this new ramp configuration is expected to improve merging for drivers entering and exiting the Beltway in this area and will also accommodate the wider Beltway that is needed for the 495 Express Lanes Northern Extension.

Recently opened new ramp runs parallel to southbound I-495 between George Washington Memorial Parkway and Georgetown Pike, and will help merging on and off the Beltway in this area (April 2025).

Traffic Impacts During Implementation of Ramp Shift:

• Time: 9:30 p.m., Thursday, May 1, to 5 a.m., Friday, May 2

• The ramp from the southbound I-495 collector road to Georgetown Pike (Exit 44) will be closed. Motorists will be directed to continue south on the I-495 general purpose lanes to Exit 46B for northbound Route 123, then take the exit for northbound I-495 to return to Georgetown Pike via Exit 44.

• The ramp from northwest GWMP to southbound I-495 will be closed. Motorists will be directed to northbound I-495 toward Maryland, then take Exit 41 for westbound Clara Barton Parkway, then use the exit to Carderock to turn back onto eastbound Clara Barton Parkway and finally merge onto southbound I-495 toward Virginia.

• Motorists traveling on the southbound I-495 collector road taking Exit 43 for GWMP will not be impacted by the traffic shift.

Drivers are asked to use caution and follow roadway signs while getting acclimated to these new travel patterns.

In the event of inclement weather or other delays, work may be rescheduled or delayed.

Check VA 511 for traffic, work zone and incident information online at 511.vdot.virginia.gov, on the mobile app, or by calling 511 from any phone in Virginia.

Visit 495next.vdot.virginia.gov for the latest construction and lane closure information

# # #