New ramps provide unprecedented free-flowing access from Capital Beltway to Telegraph Road and Eisenhower Valley

Major Construction Milestone Completed Two Months Ahead of Schedule; Ramps Will Improve Traffic Flow and safety on Telegraph Road

Alexandria, Va. – The Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project opened two new ramps at the Telegraph Road interchange of the Capital Beltway (I-95/495).  The new ramps will significantly improve traffic flow and safety throughout the interchange. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)-sponsored project is pleased to open the ramps two months ahead of schedule and on budget.

"This is a major new piece of infrastructure in the area," said VDOT Project Manager John Lynch.  "Both of these ramps will provide welcome relief to travelers in the Telegraph Road interchange – both in terms of easing congestion and enhancing safety."

The first new ramp connects travelers on the Inner Loop directly to Telegraph Road North. Those travelers used to share the ramp that goes from the Inner Loop to Pershing Avenue. 

The second new ramp gives Outer Loop travelers the choice of two directions: either Telegraph Road North or Eisenhower Avenue.  Providing this new direct access from the Beltway to Eisenhower Avenue is a significant safety improvement. It eliminates the abrupt weave-merge area that existed for years between motorists coming off the Inner Loop to Telegraph Road North and motorists trying to turn right onto Pershing Avenue from Telegraph Road.

The existing temporary detour for Outer Loop traffic bound for Telegraph Road North via the left-turn traffic light at Huntington Avenue has closed, improving traffic flow on northbound Telegraph Road substantially.

Earlier this year, exits for Telegraph Road North from both the Inner and Outer Loops were re-routed or realigned to allow crews to demolish and replace portions of old Beltway overpasses and to complete the new ramps. In June, direct access to the Eisenhower Valley was established with a new ramp from Telegraph Road North directly to Eisenhower Avenue.  Details for the new ramp openings are described in the graphic and description below.

During the weekend of Sept. 24, two significant traffic flow improvements are coming (see above image):

• The new ramp from the Inner Loop to Telegraph Road north opens (A), eliminating the sharing of the ramp to Pershing Avenue (B).
• The new Exit 176B (C) opens, providing direct access from the Outer Loop to either Telegraph Road north or to Eisenhower Avenue, connecting to the existing ramp that connects Telegraph Road North traffic with Eisenhower Avenue (D). 
• The temporary detour ramp from the Outer Loop to Telegraph Road north via the left-turn light at Huntington Avenue will close (E), increasing traffic capacities on Telegraph Road North between Huntington Avenue and the Beltway.

Long-term improvements

These two ramp openings are major construction milestones in the Telegraph Road interchange, on track for substantial completion in 2012. The goal for the 2010 construction season is to move all traffic to the new Capital Beltway Local lanes and have all Telegraph Road and Beltway on/off ramps in their final and permanent configuration. By the end of 2011 the Thru and Local lanes will be completed in their final design for the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project, transitioning between the Eisenhower Connector and the Telegraph Road interchange to the four-lane configuration.

Directly following the opening of these two new ramps, crews will demolish the temporary detour ramp and begin constructing a new ramp from Telegraph Road South to N. Kings Highway. When complete in 2011, this new ramp will eliminate the current left turn from Telegraph to N. Kings Highway, further improving traffic flow on Telegraph Road.

Soon, work will begin on the Telegraph Road bridge over Cameron Run, which will be wider and slightly higher than the existing bridge.  The new bridge will have a sidewalk on the east side which will connect to the bike and pedestrian path on the new ramp from Telegraph Road to Eisenhower Avenue.  Once the sidewalk is completed, the path will be open for public use – currently scheduled for mid 2011. In addition, during the 2011 construction season, Telegraph Road and corresponding bridges will be widened to accommodate greater traffic capacities and improve the flow of traffic accessing the Beltway and connecting side streets.

To review the improvements to the Telegraph Road interchange and for more information, visit the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project website at www.wilsonbridge.com.