Seven people are injured after a crash involving multiple cars on the Beltway Outer Loop in Chevy Chase, Maryland, Sunday night, fire officials say. 256 Resources Add. Upland Trail This ¾ mile trail traverses the length of the island. Photo taken May 13, 2007 by Scott Kozel. Many HOT lane access points serve traffic in only one direction of I-495, which is intended to complement typical commuting patterns. After a series of public meetings and environmental studies, the project was approved and funded in 2007. Continuing east, the Beltway encounters a diamond interchange with a connector road linking to Eisenhower Avenue, which parallels the Beltway for a short distance. Learn more about our shop and community. Part of Beltway outer loop shut down near I-270 after tractor-trailer jackknifes. Well coming from Baltimore on 295 would let you back onto 95 which is 495/ on the "outer Loop" or is it the "inner loop". In January 2018, Maryland State Democratic Sen. Joanne Benson of Prince George's County proposed legislation (Senate Bill 55) to increase the speed limit of the Maryland section of the Beltway from 55 to 70 mph, in a bid to reduce traffic congestion on the Beltway.[12][13]. Construction can cause delays at any time of the day. The entire route is in Fairfax County, Virginia. Rachel Cooper is a travel writer who has lived in the Washington, D.C., area for more than 25 years. Most Beltway interchanges provide access to Washington, with I-95 and I-295 from the south, I-66 from the west, and US 50 from both the west and the east among the most frequently used. There are two lanes on the Beltway, one on the inside, known as the Inner Loop and is closer to DC and travels clockwise. [15] Tolls are waived for buses, carpools of at least three people, motorcycles, and emergency vehicles with an E-ZPass Flex transponder set to the "HOV ON" configuration. Discover the nation's capital city with Big Bus Tours. Length 10.0 miElevation gain 1,108 ftRoute type Loop. Both US 50 and MD 450 (which interchanges with the Beltway slightly northward) provide access to the New Carrollton Metro, MARC commuter rail, and Amtrak stations, and the New Carrollton area. Save. The exit numbers between the American Legion Memorial Bridge and the Springfield Interchange—Interstate 495's intersection with Interstate 395 and I-95 in Virginia—became a continuation of the Maryland exit numbers from the Woodrow Wilson Bridge to the American Legion Memorial Bridge. The highway passes through Prince George's and Montgomery counties in Maryland, and Fairfax County and the city of Alexandria in Virginia. MDOT plans to apply the treatment to the Outer Loop between Connecticut Avenue and the Bradley Boulevard overpass, including the driving surface around the … The College Park Interchange is the informal name for the northern interchange between I-95 and I-495 in College Park. Visiting Washington, DC Maps and Directions. They would then follow M Street and New Jersey Avenue to Union Station. Ikea College Park, Outer Loop. I-95 joins the Beltway within the Springfield Interchange. Continuing east the two routes encounter US 1, a major north-south highway providing access to Alexandria, Arlington and downtown Washington, as well as various points south in Fairfax County, Virginia. Posted in Maryland | Leave a comment. The Beltway then interchanges with US 50/unsigned I-595, a major highway from downtown Washington eastward to Annapolis, Maryland, and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to Maryland's Eastern Shore. So I-495 is the Capital Beltway, or just "The Beltway." Beyond the US 1 interchange, I-95 separates from I-495 at the College Park Interchange. The Express Lanes were opened for public access on November 17, 2012. Tolls change dynamically, with higher tolls charged during periods of heaviest congestion. Traveling clockwise, the Beltway is designated as the "Inner Loop"; traveling counter-clockwise, it is designated as the "Outer Loop". The city is beautifully laid out for runners, with wide streets and sidewalks radiating from the Capitol and miles of paths around its most visited destinations. Report inappropriate content . The Beltway is essentially one big circle around DC. [5] The federal government gave final approval for the construction of the Capital Beltway (also known as the Circumferential Highway in the planning stages) on September 28, 1955. A wide range of transportation alternatives is available for commuters who want to avoid the Beltway altogether. Mon: Closed Tue: 11–7 Wed: 11–7 Thu: 11–9 (open late!) It is the basis of the phrase "inside the Beltway", used when referring to issues dealing with U.S. government and politics. Driving directions from Bing Maps. The small built portion from the north was converted into a park-and-ride lot. 1. When the D.C. government canceled its segment of I-95 in 1977, I-95 was rerouted onto the eastern half of the Capital Beltway, which lost its designation as I-495 (this was restored in 1989, forming a concurrency of I-95 and I-495 on the eastern half). Except for the westernmost part of Woodrow Wilson Bridge south of downtown Washington (the water below is considered part of the District of Columbia), the Capital Beltway encircles Washington, D.C., in adjacent Maryland and Virginia. In the most simplistic sense, the inner loop comprises all the individual-level interactions, learnings and changes that occur within the Net Promoter System® while the outer loop deals with all the macro-level changes and learnings. The interchange between U.S. Route 50 and I-95/I-495 in Prince George's County, Maryland was upgraded from a simple cloverleaf to a hybrid turbine interchange. Numerous large shopping malls, community colleges, sports and concert stadiums, and corporate employment centers were purposely built adjacent to the Beltway, and these added greatly to the traffic, as has the passenger growth of regional airports accessed by the Beltway. Immediately after crossing into Fairfax County, Virginia, I-495 encounters the western terminus of the George Washington Memorial Parkway at a trumpet interchange; the Parkway provides a scenic route to Arlington, Virginia, and downtown Washington. The lane on the INSIDE is called the After this interchange, the Beltway soon crosses the Potomac Gorge into Virginia over the ten-lane American Legion Memorial Bridge. the counter-clockwise direction is signed as the Outer Loop. I-495 joins I-270 Spur at a converging wye junction; Inner Loop traffic exits from itself at the southern terminus of I-270 Spur, while Outer Loop traffic crosses the spur and enters it from the right. The original scope of the HOT project is covered by a fixed-price $1.3 billion contract between concessionaire Capital Beltway Express LLC and contractor Fluor-Lane LLC. Past the MD 4 interchange, the Beltway turns north through Glenarden, interchanging with MD 202. Continuing due south, the route then interchanges with Gallows Road, then skirts the eastern edge of Mill Creek Park before interchanging with VA 236 southwest of Annandale Community Park. Continuing west from the College Park Interchange, I-495 crosses into Montgomery County, Maryland, entering a heavily developed and populated area. The Springfield Interchange in Virginia completed reconstruction in 2007. This circumferential roadway is located not only in the states of Virginia and Maryland, but also crosses briefly through the District of Columbia, near the western end of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge over the Potomac River. Passing underneath MD 212 with no access, the route interchanges with MD 650 near the George Washington Cemetery. The proposal is to build a new Metro line that would loop through downtown DC. The project added two lanes to I-495 in each direction from just west of the Springfield interchange to just north of the Dulles Toll Road and included the replacement of more than 50 bridges, overpasses, and major interchanges. City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > District of Columbia > Washington, DC: Outer Loop Beltway (congested, best time, area) User Name: Remember Me: Password : Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Understandably, this was confusing. A Guide to Transportation in Washington, D.C. Where to Stop on a Drive Between Baltimore and Washington, D.C. It's actually Interstate 495, a 64-mile highway that encircles Washington. 1,693. [8] The highway was intended to reduce traffic and also to offer an alternative route for the military in case of emergency. If a driver gets onto westbound I-66 at the Leesburg Pike (SR 7) entrance, the only choice for getting to northbound I-495 is to take I-66 west to the Nutley Street exit and then get on I-66 east. Hop-On, Hop-Off Washington DC Red Loop Explore DC's best sights on our Red Loop tour, featuring pre-recorded commentary in 8 different languages. Inner or outer Beltway refer to which direction u are going. Maryland State Police were called to … M-NCPPC has jurisdiction over parkland MDSHA will need for its proposal.[21]. There is no access between the Outer Loop and eastbound I-66 at this interchange. Location: Washington, DC; Distance: 1.6 miles (Outer Loop) Highlights: Stunning views of the Potomac River, quiet forest trails, boardwalks over waterways with lots of wildlife, and dog-friendly! After I-95 was realigned onto the Beltway, a flyover ramp was built to allow I-95 through traffic to have two high-speed lanes. The Dumbarton Oaks-Georgetown Loop takes you up Rock Creek and back through one of the most beautiful parts of DC – Dumbarton Oaks and Upper Georgetown. Yarn, notions, accessories and more... View Products / 4 / 4. After bisecting Northwest Branch Park, the Beltway interchanges with MD 193 and US 29 south of Four Corners; the two interchanges are little more than 1/2 mile apart. Baltimore-Washington Parkway, U.S. 1 and I-95 parallel one another northeast to Laurel and southwest Baltimore. In 2004, Transurban (USA) Development Inc. joined the Fluor team to serve as concessionaire and long-term operator of the HOT lanes. Despite numerous widening projects over the past few decades, heavy traffic is a continuing problem. I-495 south enters Fairfax County over the south banks of the Potomac River. This large interchange also connects to National Harbor Boulevard which links the National Harbor with the Beltway and I-295. The newer Fairfax County Parkway in the 1990s helped ease some traffic on the Virginia beltway; however, various proposals to build another complete outer beltway in the outer suburbs has not gotten off the ground, because local governments in Maryland object to building additional Potomac River crossings as well as destroying protected "open space" and creating sprawl. A similar situation occurs for going from the. Hiking Nature trips Forest Views Wildlife. Fortunately, there are 15 states that use E-ZPass and more than 26 million E-ZPass devices in circulation, so it is convenient for many visitors to use the Express Lanes. We aim to create a space for both emerging and established writers to connect with their community, and to transform the written word into a shared experience through the act of reading aloud. The tracks would turn south along 2nd Street to cross Capitol Hill, and then parallel the Green Line under I Street. Things to Know Before You Drive New York's Thruway and Back Roads, Get to Know Washington, D.C. From there, it’s less than a quarter mile to the true summit and a 360-degree panoramic view of the park. Click photo for large image. Be flexible and ready to use an alternate route if necessary. A Metro bus was involved in a collision on the Outer Loop of the Capital Beltway between Connecticut Avenue and Rockville Pike. The Big Curve is where the Outer Loop flies over the southbound I … Drivers of vehicles with less than three occupants are required to pay a toll to use these express lanes. [7] By December 1952, the plan had evolved into a highway that fully encircled Washington's suburbs. A tractor-trailer overturned on the outer loop of the Capital Beltway in Greenbelt, Maryland, Tuesday evening, blocking all lanes for a couple of hours. Since Metro’s track capacity is 26 TPH, there’s actually room to add two more lines to the loop. Home; CONTACT US Radius: Off. The Inner Loop is a literary reading series and network for creative writers in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Sped up to 3x. The road is expected to remain closed through summer 2021. Exit numbers on the Beltway have gone through several iterations. The route descriptions below follow the direction of the Outer Loop, starting at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge over the Potomac River, south of Washington. All … Woods Trail This short, ⅓ mile trail passes through the heart of the island, including the memorial plaza with its statue and fountains. The explosive growth of housing and businesses in the Maryland and Virginia suburbs has created heavy traffic around the region, especially on the Capital Beltway. I-270 and I-495 split at a highly complex Y-junction, with two separate HOV connections to I-270's HOV lanes and separate ramps to and from MD 355 (formerly US 240). Posted in Maryland | Leave a comment. Beltway Outer Loop. LoveLeeTravels. Classes, trunk shows and other happenings... View Calendar. Woman Gives Birth on Beltway’s Outer Loop in Va. An infant was taken to Children's Hospital in critical condition Sunday night after suffering life threatening injuries in a Beltway collision. The Beltway (here I-95 and I-495 together) enters Maryland during its Potomac River crossing over the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, west of Forest Heights and National Harbor as a ten-lane highway with a local–express lane configuration including three local lanes and two express lanes in each direction. Located within Washington DC, in the Potomac River, lies Theodore Roosevelt Island. for Las Vegas, Washington DC, County Donegal, Western Ireland. Highway in Washington, D.C. metropolitan areas of Maryland and Virginia. Fri: 11–7 Sat: 11–6 Sun: 11–5. City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > District of Columbia > Washington, DC: Outer Loop Beltway (congested, best time, area) User Name: Remember Me: Password Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! The former interchange with the toll road (VA 267) is a directional interchange, while the latter is a cloverleaf; the entire complex occurs east of the Tysons Corner business district. Filmed on February 12, 2017 between 21:15 and 22:15. Home » Guides » Virginia » Interstate 495 / Capital Beltway - Outer Loop. Local commuters refer to the Springfield Interchange as "The Mixing Bowl," although this designation is reserved by highway officials for the even more complicated interchange complex adjacent to The Pentagon on the original Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway (currently better-known as Interstate 395) at State Route 27 in Arlington. A Ramada bus carrying … These new lanes are one stage of a controversial project to widen the beltway, with the second stage involving widening the beltway to 12 lanes; opponents have called for various alternatives to this project (as well as the controversial Intercounty Connector project) which would divert many vehicles off the northern beltway. [9], In 1989, the I-495 designation was restored to the eastern portion, making it a dual I-95/I-495.[10]. Classes & Events. HOT lane interchanges are as follows:[16]. Get to Know the Highways in the Washington DC Area, Washington DC Bridges: A Guide to River Crossings. Driving on the Capital Beltway and other Washington, D.C. area interstates can be a headache. Washington, DC's Leading Local News: Weather, Traffic, Sports and more | Washington, DC | WUSA9.com. [b] There are multiple ramps from I-66 east to the Inner Loop, with one ramp exiting from the left side of I-66 east and the other exiting from the right. A fun rock scramble leads to a rocky peak. Signs leading up to and within the toll lanes have an E-ZPass logo which tells you that you need an E-ZPass. Interchanging with Old Georgetown Road (MD 187), I-495 soon meets the Interstate 270 Spur, the other side of the I-270/I-495 triangle. [5] Backed by Senator Francis Case of South Dakota, the plan called for the highway to begin in Beltsville at the nearly completed Baltimore-Washington Parkway, continue west through Silver Spring and Bethesda, cross the Potomac River over a new bridge, head south near Tysons Corner and Falls Church, turn east by the Shirley Memorial Highway, and end at Route 1 in Gum Springs. The entire complex is bounded on the northeast side by Fairview Lake and on the southwest side by an office complex. The interchange between I-95 and the Beltway in Prince George's County, Maryland was originally designed to be a cloverleaf to allow I-95 to extend southward toward the District of Columbia. In heavy traffic, it can be difficult to switch lanes and might require more time than you would expect. The two carriageways of I-495 temporarily widen to five lanes each until the MD 190 and Cabin John Parkway interchanges. If you do not have an E-ZPass device you cannot drive on the express lanes. By: Big Bus Tours. The outer loop goes counter clockwise, while the inner loop goes clockwise. As originally planned, it was designed with the idea that mainline I-95 through traffic would continue straight through the interchange and south into Washington D.C. as the Northeast Freeway, joining the North Central Freeway within D.C. and running south towards the central business district. [19] On June 5, 2019, the Maryland Board of Public Works voted 2–1 in favor of the proposal to construct express toll lanes along I-495, with Governor Hogan and State Comptroller Peter Franchot voting for it and State Treasurer Nancy Kopp voting against it. The Branch Avenue (Maryland Route 5) Interchange was also improved. Enjoy the Perfect Introduction to Washington DC. Depending upon where u are going and where u are getting on 495 will depend upon whether to … The lane on the outside is the Outer Loop and is farther from DC and travels counterclockwise. Full view. South: I-495 south enters Fairfax County over the south banks of the Potomac River. The Capital Beltway was originally built with 38 interchanges, and today it has 40 interchanges (the Eisenhower Avenue Connector interchange and the FedEx Field interchange were added recently). Many outlets provide traffic reports with real-time information including details on accidents, road construction, chemical spills, and weather.