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Weekend feature Beltway backups and Race for the Cure

Friday - 6/1/2012, 12:01pm  ET

Tim Bracken, wtop.com

WASHINGTON - This weekend is sure to include delays for many travelers, with a big paving project on the Capital Beltway near the Wilson Bridge and track work on every Metro line. The Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure is scheduled for Saturday, and there will be some great festivals.

Beltway construction to cause delays

A major repaving project has begun on the Beltway Inner Loop near the Wilson Bridge in Virginia. Here's what you need to know:

  • The THRU lanes will be reduced to one lane between the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and Telegraph Road.
  • All access to the Inner Loop/Interstate-95/495 South THRU lanes from Maryland and from U.S. Route 1 in Virginia will be closed, starting at 8 p.m. Friday.
  • The work will last until 5 a.m. Monday.
  • Because the backups are expected well into Maryland, drivers are urged to find alternate routes all weekend.
  • In Alexandria, the Inner Loop LOCAL exits to Pershing Avenue and Telegraph Road North will be closed. Drivers on the LOCAL lanes headed to the Eisenhower Valley should exit at the Eisenhower Connector and return on Eisenhower Avenue East.
  • Officials say that once the work is done Monday, two new Inner Loop THRU lanes will be completed. Paving will then shift to the Inner Loop LOCAL lanes.
  • From June 4 to July 1, just one Inner Loop LOCAL lane will be open.

Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure

Metro will open early at 5 a.m. Saturday for the Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure, which will step off near the Washington Monument. The opening ceremony begins at 7:40 a.m.

There will be several street closures associated with the event:

  • Constitution Avenue between 23rd and 3rd Streets
  • 21st Street between Constitution Avenue and Virginia Avenue
  • Virginia Avenue between 21st Street and Constitution Avenue
  • 14th Street between Constitution Avenue and Jefferson Drive
  • 15th Street between Constitution Avenue and Jefferson Drive
  • Jefferson Drive between 15th and 3rd Streets
  • Independence between 15th and 3rd Streets
  • Many other street closures should be expected around the race route, between the Washington Monument and the Capitol.

I-395 overnight closure

Weather permitting, northbound Interstate 95 in Virginia will not have direct access to NB I-395 overnight Friday. All traffic will be diverted to the Inner Loop of the Beltway between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Metro track work

Metro continues their massive rebuilding effort this weekend, with work starting at 10 p.m. Friday and continuing through system closing Sunday. Here's the summary from WMATA:

Orange Line:

  • Buses will replace Orange Line trains between East Falls Church and West Falls Church while crews perform tests on the rail line.
  • Orange Line trains will operate in two sections: Between Vienna and West Falls Church at regular weekend intervals, and East Falls Church and New Carrollton at regular weekend intervals.
  • Expect delays of at least 20 minutes.

Blue Line:

  • Trains will single track between Stadium-Armory and Addison Road.
  • More single tracking between Van Dorn Street and Braddock Road.
  • Blue Line trains will depart Largo Town Center and Franconia-Springfield every 20 minutes.

Red Line:

  • Trains will single track between Forest Glen and Takoma.
  • More single tracking between Van Ness and Friendship Heights.
  • Red Line trains between Shady Grove and Glenmont will operate every 24 minutes throughout the weekend.
  • Between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, additional trains will operate between Van Ness and New York Avenue only, providing service every 12 minutes in the downtown core.

Green Line

  • Green Line trains will single track between College Park and Greenbelt.
  • Trains will operate at normal weekend intervals. Every other train will begin/end service at College Park, rather than Greenbelt.
  • Delays of at least 15 minutes are expected.

Yellow Line

  • Trains will single track between Braddock Road and Huntington.
  • Yellow Line trains will operate every 24 minutes between Huntington and Mount Vernon Square throughout the weekend.
  • Customers traveling to/from stations north of Mount Vernon Square should use Green Line trains to complete their trip.

D.C. Jazz Festival

The D.C. Jazz Festival kicks off Friday and continues through June 10. This year's festival will take place with more than 100 performances in dozens of venues in the District.

Capital Pride 2012

The Capital Pride Festival and parade take place next week, but the celebration of the LGBT community officially kicks off this weekend with party events and performances from the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington at Lisner Auditorium.

Taste of Georgetown

Thirty restaurants will participate in this year's Taste of Georgetown between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday

In addition to nearly 60 food samples and wine pairings, there will be live music. The festival will benefit Georgetown Ministry Center's efforts to support the homeless.

Washington Folk Festival

The Washington Folk Festival is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday in Glen Echo Park, and will feature traditional musicians, storytellers, dancers, and craftspeople from the Washington, D.C. area.

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