Dave Dildine, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – Getting around Washington on the weekends typically becomes a little easier during the cold winter months. With lower temperatures comes lower highway volumes. Further, there are fewer outdoor events to draw large crowds and road work slows.
Washington’s weekend hibernation can keep those who do venture out moving freely on routes that would otherwise be congested during the warmer months.
Some delays are possible on I-95 as the last wave of the holiday travelers migrates through town.
The winter cold will not deter Redskins fans this weekend. Delays are likely to form near FedEx Field on Sunday before and after the first playoff game in Washington in 13 years. Whereas last weekend’s match-up against the Dallas Cowboys took place late at night, this weekend’s game will coincide with higher Sunday travel volume.
Kickoff is at 4:30 p.m. Expect heavy traffic on the eastern side of the Beltway Sunday evening as fans leave the stadium.
Track work resumes on Metro this weekend. Work on the Silver Line tie-in will close the Orange Line in Fairfax County between Vienna and East Falls Church, where buses will replace trains.
Two segments of the Red Line will experience single-tracking this weekend. There is no scheduled rail work on the Blue, Yellow, or Green Lines.
Red Line
- Trains will single-track between Shady Grove and Twinbrook and between Judiciary Square and Rhode Island Ave.
- The track work will begin at 10 p.m. Friday and last through closing Sunday night.
- Trains will run between Shady Grove and Glenmont at 24 minute intervals.
- Additional trains will run between Grosvenor and Judiciary Square from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.
Orange Line
- Orange Line trains will not operate between Vienna and East Falls Church.
- The closure will begin around 10 p.m. Friday and last through closing Sunday night.
- Express shuttle buses will run between the Vienna and East Falls Church stations. Customers should add an additional 15 minutes of travel time.
- Local shuttle buses will make stops at the East Falls Church, West Falls Church, Dunn-Lorring, and Vienna stations. For each stop, customers should give themselves an additional 15 minutes of travel time.
Road Construction
On the Beltway in Virginia, mobile work crews will continue to refine the lane markings throughout the 495 Express Lanes Project. Brightly lit arrow trucks will block various lanes all night long.
In addition, a stationary work zone is scheduled to block three right lanes on the outer loop near Gallows Road. The ramps from westbound Route 50/Arlington Blvd. and Northbound Gallows Road through early Saturday. The ramps from the outer loop to eastbound Route 50/Arlington Blvd and from Northbound Gallows Road to the outer loop will also be closed.
On Saturday morning, a bridge inspection may necessitate double-lane closures on I-95 southbound in Maryland between Route 212 and the Beltway. Crews should wrap up by 11:30 a.m.
On the Capital Beltway in Maryland, the Northwest Branch Bridge Project is nearing an end. Beginning at 8 p.m. on Sunday night crews will block one to two lanes on both the inner loop and outer loop between New Hampshire Ave. and University Blvd. to install road sensors. All lanes will be open in time for Monday morning’s rush hour.
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