Lanes (two in each direction) on the Capital Beltway between the Springfield Interchange and just north of the Dulles Toll Road, a distance of 14 miles each way (28 miles total).
Cost: $1.4 billion
Start date: July 2008
Estimated completion: Late 2012
Overpass and Interchange Information Pages
I-495 Express Lanes Interchange Fact Sheet Page
I-495/Dulles Toll Road Interchange Information
I-495/Route 123 Interchange
What’s Being Done
For updated construction-related alerts, visit the Featured Headlines page.
495 Express Lanes lanes are tolled lanes that operate alongside existing highway lanes to provide users with a faster and more reliable travel option.
This project will build fourteen miles of new 495 Express Lanes (two in each direction) on I-495 between the Springfield Interchange and just north of the Dulles Toll Road. These Express lanes will allow the Beltway to offer HOV-3 connections with I-95/395, I-66 and the Dulles Toll Road for the first time. When completed, buses, carpools and vanpools with three or more people, and motorcycles can ride in the new lanes for free. Vehicles carrying one or two people can either travel for free in the regular lanes, or pay a toll to ride in the 495 Express Lanes. Tolls for the 495 Express Lanes will change according to traffic conditions, which will regulate demand for the lanes and keep them congestion free – even during peak hours.
In addition to providing new travel choices, this project will also make a significant contribution to the Beltway’s 45-year-old infrastructure, replacing more than 50 aging bridges and overpasses, upgrading 10 interchanges and improving new bike and pedestrian access. 495 Express Lanes construction is divided into four areas. Click here for interchange-by-interchange construction phasing.
The Partners
This project is made possible through a public-private partnership between the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Fluor – Transurban. The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) is also playing an active role in the project, which will provide opportunities for expanded public transportation in the corridor. Fluor-Transurban is financing, designing and building the project with environmental review and oversight from VDOT. Once completed, Transurban will operate and maintain the 495 Express Lanes. VDOT will continue to own the facility.
Public Involvement
The project has been shaped by more than a decade of environmental studies, environmental review and public input. Go to Project Timeline (pdf) for more information.
For More Information
Go to 495expresslanes.com for more detailed project and construction information.
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Project Benefits
All Motorists
All motorists will benefit from the project, even if they do not choose to use the 495 Express Lanes. When completed,
495 Express Lanes will create a tremendous incentive to move more people through ride-sharing and buses, while better managing congestion on the general purpose lanes. This will make the Capital Beltway flow more efficiently and reduce cut-through traffic on local neighborhood streets. Commuters on the Capital Beltway will spend less time in stop-and-start traffic, saving fuel and vehicle maintenance costs.
Carpoolers
The project will deliver a new HOV option to the Capital Beltway in Virginia, opening up new carpooling and slugging opportunities to Virginia’s largest employment center, Tysons Corner. The project will significantly expand the regional HOV network and link with the planned I-95 HOV/HOT lanes, I-66 and the Dulles Toll Road creating a 70-mile HOV/Bus/HOT lanes network.
Public Transportation Users
495 Express Lanes will significantly improve the opportunity for reliable bus service on the Capital Beltway in Virginia for the first time, providing free-flowing access for buses into Tysons Corner and other activity centers.
The Community
The project will support the region’s continued economic prosperity, unclogging one of the busiest commuter routes in the nation and providing greater access to busy activity centers such as Tysons Corner and Merrifield. 495 Express Lanes will keep traffic moving efficiently on the Capital Beltway and keep through-traffic out of local neighborhoods.
And because 495 Express Lanes provide incentives to use buses or carpools and create smoother traffic flow, the environment will benefit from reduced vehicle emissions.
Public-Private Partnership
By partnering with the private sector to build 495 Express Lanes, Virginia can move forward on this project much more quickly than would be possible using traditional funding and construction methods – capitalizing on the best technology, financing methods, engineering and innovation. Go to 495expresslanes.com for more detailed project and construction information.
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Lane Closures
As construction is in full swing, expect daytime and nighttime lane closures (non-rush hour) during the week on stretches of I-495 and various interchanges and bridges. There will be occasional night closures of all I-495 lanes for bridge construction. Those closures will be closely supervised by Virginia State Police and will be communicated well in advance. Generally, no lane closures will occur during rush hours – 5 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays. There are no closures on holidays. Businesses and residential communities will remain accessible.
Click here for the alerts on planned construction activity and lane closures. Go to www.511virginia.org for the latest traffic conditions.
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FAQs
How HOT Lanes Work
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Documents
Click here for public records, presentations and other detailed information.
I-495 Interchange Fact Sheets
Visit the I-495 Fact Sheet Page for updated info.
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News
Media Contact:
Steven Titunik
Communications Director,
Virginia Megaprojects
571-483-2591
Visit the Featured Headlines and Current Alerts pages for breaking news, articles of interest and construction updates.
2010 Press Release Archive
2009 Press Release Archive
2008 Press Release Archive
2007 Press Release Archive
2006 Press Release Archive – No project press releases issued this year
2005 Press Release Archive
2004 Press Release Archive
December 3
ALERT: All lanes of I-495 will close after midnight at multiple locations
November 29
Orange Cones, No Phones combats cell phone use in work zones
November 29
Little River Turnpike ramp to I-495 closing this weekend
November 22
Tysons Corner is open for business
November 11
ALERT: All lanes of I-495 will close after midnight at various locations
November 5
Expect delays: I-66 ramp closing nightly
November 5
Ramp reconfiguration: I-495 to Route 7
November 4
Major closures on I-495 north and south
October 29
Expect delays: I-66 ramp closed Saturday night
October 15
Major closures for I-495 north at I-66, Route 29
October 11
Traffic shifts, ramp closures begin in Tysons Corner
October 5
Upcoming work on I-495
October 1
HOT Lanes Progress Report: October Milestones
September 8
Expect Detours and Traffic Shifts on I-495 After Labor Day
August 31
I-66 east lanes reopened ahead of schedule
August 27
Wakefield Park Pedestrian Bridge Reopened
August 16
Oak Street is open, Idylwood Road bridge closed
August 6, 2010
Route 29 (Lee Highway) Traffic Shift at I-495
July 15
Braddock Road Exit closing this weekend
July 12
I-495 north will shift at Braddock
June 23
Braddock Road exit to I-495 closed this weekend
May 27
Route 123 Interchange Improvements
May 25
All Braddock Road lanes shifting to new bridge
May 6
I-395 north will close Friday night
May 6
Gallows Road lanes shifted on bridge over I-495
April 30
Gallows Road Phase 2 Begins May 2010
April 30
Braddock Road exit to I-495 closed this weekend
April 14
I-495 exit to Braddock Road closed this weekend
April 14
Traffic pattern to shift at Little River Turnpike in Annandale
April 7, 2010
Braddock Road exit to I-495 closed this weekend
April 1
Megaprojects Construction Steps up for Spring
January 8
Shortened Merge Lane I-495 South Between Route 236 and Braddock Rd.
2009 Releases
October 15
Steel Beam Lift for New Gallows Road Bridge
September 8
I-66 West Steel Beams to Be Lifted
August 10
I-495 South Exit Ramp to Route 123 North to Close
July 21
Bridge Construction Begins over Beltway HOT Lanes
July 6, 2009
Right Lane Closed Until Labor Day I-495 North at Route 7
May 29, 2009
Inner Loop Ramp to Gallows Road Reconfiguration
May 1, 2009
Full Outer Loop Closure at I-66 with detours, Mon and Tues nights May 4-5
April 28, 2009
Oak Street Bridge Over Beltway to Close for One Year
April 23, 2009
I-495 Capital Beltway Construction Hits High Gear, Major Lane Closures on Route 123 in Tysons
April 13, 2009
Chain Bridge Road (Route 123) Left Lane Closes Week of April 20
April 9, 2009
Route 123 in Tysons Corner Bridge Construction Fact Sheet
April 8, 2009
More Traffic Cameras Coming to Beltway and Tysons Corner
March 29, 2009
Gallows Road Eastbound Bridge Closed
March 26, 2009
UPDATED: Gallows Road Eastbound Bridge Closes Week of March 30
March 24, 2009
UPDATED: Braddock Road Overpass Demolition (New Pedestrian Detour Info)
March 13, 2009
Gallows Road Eastbound Bridge Closes Week of March 23
Feb. 25, 2009
Braddock Road Westbound Bridge Closes Today
Feb. 17, 2009
UPDATED: Braddock Road Westbound Bridge Demolition
Jan. 29, 2009
Braddock Road Overpass Demolition
2008 Releases
Dec. 1
VDOT Keeps Tysons Corner Moving for the Holidays
Nov. 19
Bridge Demolition Route 29 (Lee Highway) Overpass at I-495
Nov. 5
Route 50, Arlington Blvd., Lane Closures Under I-495
July 22
HOT Lanes Construction Begins on the I-495 Beltway in Northern Virginia
April 28
Pre-Construction Work Underway for Beltway HOT Lanes
Jan. 8
VDOT Selects Firm to Oversee Megaprojects and Traffic Management During Construction
2007 Releases
Dec. 20
VDOT Completes Agreement for Capital Beltway HOT Lanes
Oct. 12
Regional Transportation Management Plan will aid Commuters, Employers During Construction of Megaprojects
Sept. 10
Commonwealth Announces Agreement for Capital Beltway HOT Lanes
July 31
Megaprojects Bring Contracting Opportunities
July 18
VDOT Names First Regional Mega Project Program Director
2005 Releases
April 29
Capital Beltway HOT Lanes in Northern Virginia Move a Step Closer to Construction
Jan. 20
CTB Approves 12-Lane Alternative for Beltway
2004 Releases
Aug. 27
VDOT Enters into Negotiations with the Private Sector to Improve I-495 in Northern Virginia
May 20
Advisory Panel Makes Recommendation on I-495 HOT Lane Proposal
May 18
Panel Holds Next Meeting on Beltway HOT Lanes Proposal May 20
May 17
Panel Holds Next Meeting on Beltway HOT Lanes Proposal May 20
March 29
Evaluation of I-495 HOT Lane Proposal Proceeds