WASHINGTON – You have probably found yourself at one time or another stopped along Interstate 66. But at least there are now travel times posted for you to look at while stuck in the gridlock. The information went live April 2 at nearly a dozen locations along I-66.
The travel times will be displayed weekdays from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and are provided by a company called Inrix, which gets them from drivers using their mobile app. Inrix was unable to provide reliable data for the Beltway Express Lanes but could do so for I-66.
Traffic controllers at the Public Safety Transportation Operations Center in Fairfax County will ensure the travel times are successfully relayed to the electronic message signs and are accurately refreshed every five minutes.
Virginia Department of Transportation also wants to post the times at more locations for the 35 miles from Washington to Haymarket. Gov. Bob McDonnell announced there will be 15 additional locations between D.C. and Haymarket to be added by summer.
Since August 2011, VDOT has posted the number of miles and minutes to key destinations at three locations between the Capital Beltway and Gainesville, Va.
“Northern Virginia has the most congested roads in the nation and too many hours and dollars are wasted sitting in traffic,” said McDonnell. “Thankfully, together with the General Assembly we have taken historic action this year to produce a long-term, sustainable transportation funding solution.”
Eastbound I-66 travel times will be posted on overhead signs:
- East of Route 234, with the travel time to the Vienna Metro
- At the Fairfax County Parkway, with the travel time to I-495
- Near Route 50, with the travel time to Washington, D.C.
Westbound I-66 travel times will be posted on overhead signs:
- At Sycamore Street, with the travel time to I-495
- Before the Beltway, with the travel time to Route 50
- West of Route 123, with the travel time to Route 234 Business
- At Monument Drive, with the travel time to Route 29 in Gainesville
- Just west of the Fairfax County Parkway, with the travel time to Route 29 in Gainesville
- Just west of the Rest Area with the travel time to Route 15 in Haymarket.
On I-95, VDOT has provided travel times since September 2011 at seven locations between Washington and Fredericksburg.
WTOP’s Ari Ashe contributed to this report.
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