Moving into a holiday weekend, there’s not much in the way of work zones planned. We’ll check out new intersection improvement change taking place on Friday and take a deeper dive into the new summer Platform Improvement Project starting this weekend on Metro.
Here’s what you need to know before heading out the door this Memorial Day Weekend.
Roadwork
Virginia
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has a rolling closure planned for Friday on Rolling Road in Springfield. This is all part of a bigger intersection improvement event for Rolling Road and Old Keene Mill Road. Crews will be implementing of a new traffic shift as part of a widening project.
This Friday, beginning around noon, at least one southbound lane will remain open as crews work on the new permanent traffic shift. The traffic on southbound Rolling Road between Old Keene Mill Road and Kenwood Avenue will be shifted to the right onto new pavement. This shift will allow for reconstruction of the median area.
This work includes:
- Adding a second left-turn lane from northbound Rolling Road to westbound Old Keene Mill Road.
- Adding a dedicated right-turn lane from northbound Rolling Road to eastbound Old Keene Mill Road
- Upgrading the traffic signal
- Improving the intersection alignment
The intersection improvements are scheduled to be completed later this year.
DC
This year will be void of the annual Rolling Thunder Ride, an event where hundreds of thousands of motorcycles converged on the nation’s capital from all directions to honor the country’s POW/MIAs. This annual ride could see traffic held at various locations to facilitate the event.
This year’s replacement event will be courtesy of American Veterans, also known as AMVETS. There will be a Rolling to Remember Ride through the District this Sunday.
The ride, which calls for furthered efforts to recover American POW/MIAs and bring awareness to veteran suicide, will round the border of the District by way of Interstate 395 in route to the National Mall.
This event will host an estimated 50,000 motorcycles at RFK Stadium’s lot 8, where they will disperse around noon to ride through the District, circling the National Mall.
Maryland
This Memorial Day Weekend is generally all about the Eastern Shore, when to leave, lane configuration at the Bay Bridge, traffic on US-50.
There is rain in the forecast this weekend, which will dictate travel patterns on US-50 crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.
Be sure to stay tuned to WTOP for traffic and weather on the 8s (and when it breaks) with the latest, and be sure to call the Traffic Center with any road hazards or tips to be part of the process at 866-304-WTOP.
The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) has tips for travelers using US-50 at the Bay Bridge this weekend. Heavier traffic volumes should be expected Thursday through Saturday with more volume building again later Sunday through Monday. They do urge motorists to stay on US-50 on BOTH sides of the bridge to keep the local roadways open for first responders and residents.
There off-peak scheduled suggestions for traveling to and from the Eastern Shore this holiday looks like this:
- Thursday, May 27 – before 10 a.m. and after 10 p.m.
- Friday, May 28 – before 8 a.m. and after 10 p.m.
- Saturday, May 29 – before 8 a.m. and after 5 p.m.
- Sunday, May 30 – before 10 a.m. and after 10 p.m.
- Memorial Day Monday, May 31 – before 8 a.m. and after 11 p.m.
Metro
With the Blue Line platform project officially in the books, the Arlington Cemetery (Blue Line) and Addison Road (Blue and Silver) stations are now open just in time for Memorial Day weekend. Metro will now set sights on the Green and Yellow line platforms.
This weekend, Metro begins the next phase of its Platform Improvement Project on the Green and Yellow lines, which will close four stations the West Hyattsville, Prince George’s Plaza, College Park-U of Maryland and Greenbelt stations for improvements through Sept. 6. During this time, free shuttle buses will be provided for customers to and from the closed stations. Check out the shuttle schedules and alternative travel options, parking and bus relocations online.
Metro’s Memorial Day Weekend schedule will change slightly Saturday through Monday, with service from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. until 11 p.m. on Sunday and Monday. Trains will serve 87 of 91 stations providing normal service on the Red, Blue, Orange, and Silver lines and scheduled adjustments on the Green and Yellow lines.
Weekend service summary:
- Red Line: trains every 12–18 minutes.
- Blue Line: trains every 15–20 minutes
- Orange Line: trains 15–20 minutes.
- Silver Line: trains every 15-20 minutes.
- Yellow Line: Due to the summer Platform Improvement Project
- Trains operate between Huntington and Mt Vernon Sq only.
- Travelers to stations north of Mt Vernon Sq should transfer to the Green Line.
- Green Line: trains 15–20
- Due to the summer Platform Improvement Project:
- Trains operate between Branch Ave and Ft Totten only.
- West Hyattsville, Prince George’s Plaza, College Park-U of Md, and Greenbelt stations closed.
- Free shuttle buses replace trains as follows:
- Limited stop service between Greenbelt, College Park- U of Md & Fort Totten
- Limited stop service between Prince George’s Plaza, West Hyattsville & Fort Totten
- Local service between Greenbelt, College Park- U of Md Prince George’s Plaza & West Hyattsville
