Tim Bracken, wtop.com
Weekend Wakeup Call – Friday, June 8 to Monday, June 11
WASHINGTON – This weekend brings big celebrations and big construction projects.
On the fun side: the Capital Pride Festival and Parade, the Air Force Cycling Classic, the Girl Scouts Sing-Along on the Mall and the 3-day Celebrate Fairfax Festival.
On the not-so-fun side: construction closures in Virginia for Interstate 395 and Gallows Road and Metro track work delays.
I-395 overnight closure
I-395 will be closed at the Capital Beltway in the Friday overnight hours. Here’s what you need to know:
- Northbound I-395 will be closed at the Beltway/I-495 from 9 p.m. Friday through 7 a.m. Saturday.
- This closure impacts drivers traveling from I-95 north continuing onto I-395 north only.
- All traffic will be diverted to the Inner Loop, and detour signs will be in place to direct drivers to northbound I-395.
- The detour route is approximately 10 miles round-trip, so delays of up to 20 minutes can be expected while the closure is in place.
Gallows Road construction closure overnight Saturday
- In Virginia, Gallows Road will be closed at the Beltway/I-495 from 10 p.m. Saturday to 9 a.m. Sunday.
- The closure will be on the Inner Loop side of the Beltway.
- Gallows Road south traffic heading toward Annandale will be directed to take I-495 north to Exit 50B/Arlington Blvd. east to Graham Road south and make a right onto Annandale Road south and follow signs to Gallows Road.
- Gallows Road north traffic heading toward I-495/Merrifield will be directed to take Gallows Road south, to right onto Annandale/ Hummer Road, right onto Little River Turnpike (Route 236) west and follow signs to I-495.
Metro track work
Metro’s rebuilding effort continues with buses replacing trains between East Falls Church and West Falls Church. Work is scheduled for all lines except for the Yellow Line. Here’s the summary from WMATA:
Orange Line:
- Buses will replace Orange Line trains between East Falls Church and West Falls Church to allow for testing associated with the Silver Line Metrorail extension.
- Orange Line trains will operate in two sections: betweenVienna and West Falls Church at regular weekend intervals, and between East Falls Church and New Carrollton at regular weekend intervals.
- Customers using shuttle bus service should allow about 20 minutes of additional travel time.
Blue Line:
- Trains will single track between Stadium-Armory and Addison Road.
- Blue Line trains will depart Largo Town Center and Franconia-Springfield every 20 minutes.
- Delays of at least 15 minutes are expected.
Red Line:
- Trains will single track between Takoma and Forest Glen.
- Red Line trains between Shady Grove and Glenmont will operate every 20 minutes throughout the weekend.
- Between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, additional trains will operate between Shady Grove and New York Ave stations, providing service every 10 minutes on the western side of the Red Line.
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.
Capital Pride 2012
The annual celebration of the LGBT community continues this weekend, with the Capital Pride parade at 4:30 p.m. Saturday will travel through Dupont Circle to Logan Circle.
The Capital Pride Festival is scheduled for Sunday in front of the Capitol on Pennsylvania Avenue. The huge celebration will feature music, food, and special ticketed chef tastings.
Girl Scouts Sing-Along on the Mall
The year 2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the Girl Scouts organization, and the annual Sing-Along on the Mall is expected to draw more than 200,000 participants. Activities are scheduled between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday.
Air Force Cycling Classic
The Air Force Cycling Classic is scheduled for Sunday, and will close several streets in Arlington, between the hours of 5 a.m. and 6 p.m.:
- Joyce Street closed from Army Navy to Columbia Pike.
- Columbia Pike closed from Oak Street to Pentagon South Parking area.
- South Gate Road will have no access to Columbia Pike.
- Eastbound Washington Boulevard closed at I-395.
- Westbound Washington Boulevard closed from Memorial Bridge.
- Boundary Channel Drive will be closed.
- Crystal Drive from 23rd Street to Army Navy Drive – no vehicle traffic will be permitted northbound or southbound on Crystal Drive Access.
- 15th and Jefferson Davis Highway – No traffic permitted east of Jefferson Davis Highway. All traffic that comes east of Eads Street must use Route 1.
- 18th and Clark Street – No vehicle traffic permitted eastbound towards Crystal Drive unless parking. All traffic will be detoured southbound on Bell Street.
- 20th and Jefferson Davis Highway – No traffic permitted from Jefferson Davis Highway to 20th Street or to the access road that parallels Jefferson Davis Highway to the east.
- 23rd and Jefferson Davis Highway – All traffic coming from or across Jefferson Davis Highway will be sent south on Clark Street. The normal lanes of traffic on 23rd Street coming from Crystal Drive will be used for the race route. Traffic coming from Crystal Drive on 23rd Street will be using the eastbound lanes.
- Southbound Route 110 ramp to northbound I-395 will be closed until noon.
- Southbound Route 110 from Rosslyn to S. 15th Street will be closed until noon.
Celebrate Fairfax
This year’s Celbrate Fairfax festival is scheduled for Friday through Sunday at the Fairfax County Government Center, and will feature hundreds of exhibitors and food vendors. There will be nightly fireworks, and lots of music performances from Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, The Legwarmers and the Legends of Hip-Hop featuring Young MC, Rob Base, DJ Kool, Digital Underground and hosted by Flavor Flav.
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(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)
