ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Be forewarned: A major repaving project on the Inner Loop of the Capital Beltway near the Woodrow Wilson Bridge will cause traffic problems throughout the weekend in Maryland and Virginia.
As part of the Wilson Bridge Project, crews are paving the the final THRU lanes between U.S. Route 1 and Telegraph Road.
The THRU lanes have been reduced to one lane between the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and Telegraph Road.
Crews have opened a temporary second LOCAL lane between U.S. Route 1 and Telegraph Road through the weekend.
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.
Drivers also should use the Inner Loop LOCAL lanes Friday during the day.
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.
When this time, drivers on the Inner Loop THRU lanes won’t be able to exit at the Eisenhower Connector and should use the Van Dorn interchange.
WTOP Traffic will keep you up-to-date every 10 minutes on the 8s on 103.5 FM and you can follow WTOP Traffic and WTOP on Twitter. WTOP’s Custom Commute cameras also can help you navigate your commute.
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