VDOT News - Northern Virginia

MCLEAN, VA – As early as next Wednesday night, July 27, the I-495 Express Lanes Northern Extension (495 NEXT) project team, in coordination with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), will begin demolishing the north side of the Georgetown Pike Bridge over I-495 (side facing the George Washington Memorial Parkway). The occasionally noisy nighttime work is necessary to enable construction of the center pier of the replacement bridge, which will be longer to span the wider future Beltway. 

The work is part of the 495 NEXT project to extend the 495 Express Lanes from the Dulles Corridor interchange to the George Washington Memorial Parkway interchange. 

Prior to the demolition and scheduled for Sunday night, July 24, east- and westbound traffic on Georgetown Pike will be shifted to the bridge’s south side (facing Tysons), enabling demolition of the north side to begin. Preparatory work for the traffic shift has been underway since late June including demolishing the concrete median, paving where the median previously existed, putting in temporary traffic lights and installing a temporary barrier wall. 

The upcoming demolition work is expected to take approximately three weeks, with work beginning on or about next Wednesday night. Work generally will occur Sunday nights through Friday nights between 9:30 p.m. and 5 a.m., with Saturday nights between 9:30 p.m. and 7 a.m. as a backup. All work is dependent on weather conditions and other factors.

Specialized equipment will be used to demolish the bridge, including excavators fitted with hammers, saws and hydraulic jaws.

While every effort will be made to control noise, certain demolition activities are unavoidably noisy and must be performed during nighttime hours when Beltway traffic below the bridge is lightest and necessary lane closures can occur. 

Demolition of the bridge’s south side (facing Tysons) is planned to occur in spring 2024.

What Can Drivers Expect?

To keep workers and motorists safe during the demolition, overnight triple- and double-lane closures on I-495 (Capital Beltway) and periodic stoppages of I-495 lanes for up to 30-minute intervals will be necessary. Virginia State Police will be on site to assist with implementation of the closures. Lane closures may also occur on Georgetown Pike approaching and over the bridge. 

During certain multi-lane closures of the left side of southbound I-495, motorists coming from the George Washington Memorial Parkway heading for southbound I-495 will follow a minor detour accompanied by advance signage. Instead of accessing the Beltway from the left lane of the exit ramp, drivers will be directed to stay right and take the ramp up to Georgetown Pike, proceed straight through the traffic light, and take the ramp back down where traffic will then be able to merge onto the Beltway. 

Travelers approaching the Georgetown Pike Bridge from all directions should use caution, pay attention to roadway signs approaching and within the work zone, anticipate delays during this nighttime work and plan their trips accordingly. 

When completed, the reconfigured Georgetown Pike Interchange will provide several improvements over the existing interchange, including:

• A channelized, free-flow right turn from westbound Georgetown Pike to northbound I-495;
• An on-ramp to northbound I-495 that will provide increased merge distance; and
• A wider Georgetown Pike Bridge that will include a six-foot-wide sidewalk and a trail connection to Scotts Run Nature Preserve.

Visit 495NEXT.org for the latest construction and lane closure information.

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