Amy Freedman, WTOP Traffic
WASHINGTON – With the Affordable Health Care Act and University presidents both making a comeback this week, the other return to the forefront was of the traffic variety: All too familiar major delays at the Wilson Bridge. Whether you crossed the bridge from Maryland or Virginia, this week brought back memories of the agonizing days when the new bridge was fully under construction and the only way to get through it was to keep thinking about that time when the work would be over and the ride would be vastly improved.
As drivers tried to sort out new configurations and lane closures the question once again became: Is the end is in sight?
The short answer: Yes!
The delays experienced this week were part of the final phase of paving work on both loops.
Here’s what we know:
- The Outer Loop Thru lanes are now open and in their final configuration
- There is a new “decision point” when you must decide whether to take the Thru or Local lanes. The new point is after Van Dorn Street but before Eisenhower Avenue. Bear in mind that if you choose the Thru lanes your first exit will be Md. 210.
- Between this new decision point, to just after Telegraph Road, there is currently only one Local lane open continuously until the end of July.
- The Inner Loop Thru lanes are in their final configuration, but there is still mid-day roadwork taking place blocking one of the two Thru lanes between U.S. 1 and the Eisenhower Connector.
- The Inner Loop Local lanes paving work continues with only one Local lane open between U.S. 1 and the Eisenhower Connector continuously until the second week in July.
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