I-495 | FFXnow

Plan to replace American Legion Bridge revived with request for federal funding

Published August 21, 2023 at 3:00PM | Updated August 22, 2023 at 9:35AM

Traffic on the American Legion Bridge headed north into Maryland (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 9:35 a.m. on 8/22/2023) Maryland has renewed its commitment to replacing the American Legion Bridge and adding express lanes on the Capital Beltway, much to the relief of Northern Virginia transportation officials.

The Maryland Department of Transportation has applied for a federal grant to fund the initial phase of its project to widen the Beltway (I-495/I-270) and reconstruct the aging bridge, which provides the only road connection between Fairfax County and Montgomery County, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore announced today (Monday).

News

Traffic Alert: Four-vehicle crash closes I-495 Express Lanes in Tysons

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 17, 2023 at 5:30PM | Updated August 17, 2023 at 6:28PM

The I-495 North Express Lanes are blocked by a four-vehicle crash near the Dulles Toll Road in Tysons (via VDOT)

Updated at 6:30 p.m. — All lanes on I-495 have reopened.

Earlier: The northbound express lanes of the Capital Beltway (I-495) are partially closed at the Dulles Toll Road in Tysons after a crash involving four vehicles.

News

Utility work will require nighttime traffic stops on I-495 in McLean next week

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 4, 2023 at 2:15PM | Updated August 7, 2023 at 11:06AM

A sign for the Georgetown Pike exit off of I-495 North (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 11:05 a.m. on 8/7/2023) Traffic on the Capital Beltway will be periodically stopped overnight at Georgetown Pike in the latter half of next week.

Lasting up to 30 minutes at a time, the stoppages are required to enable crews to relocate utilities at the interchange as part of the 495 NEXT project, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

News

JUST IN: Man charged with hit and run after crashing into numerous vehicles on Capital Beltway

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 7, 2023 at 2:15PM

The scene of a multi-vehicle crash on I-495 from a traffic camera near Old Dominion Drive (via VDOT)

A Falls Church man has been charged with a hit and run after crashing into multiple vehicles on the Capital Beltway (I-495) in McLean yesterday (Thursday), bringing traffic during the afternoon rush-hour to a halt.

In footage from a Virginia Department of Transportation traffic camera shared by public safety blogger Dave Statter, the driver of a white van was captured plowing into several northbound vehicles and then jumping over the median to the interstate’s southbound lanes around 4 p.m.

Countywide

UPDATED: Capital Beltway reopens after vehicle crashes clog traffic in McLean

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 6, 2023 at 5:05PM | Updated July 6, 2023 at 7:44PM

A crash has created traffic backups on I-495 at Lewinsville Road (via VDOT)

Updated at 7:45 p.m. — All lanes on I-495 have now reopened after a pair of crashes during the afternoon rush hour, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Earlier: Two separate vehicle crashes have brought the Capital Beltway to a near-standstill in the McLean area just north of Tysons.

Countywide

American Legion Bridge would be even more congested without transit, study says

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 1, 2023 at 3:30PM

On the Capital Beltway at the American Legion Bridge into Maryland (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

If you find trips on the Capital Beltway into Maryland nightmarish now, imagine what they would be like without any transit options.

That’s the scenario posed by the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) in a new study on the value of the region’s transit network, including Metro, local bus services like Fairfax Connector and the Virginia Railway Express (VRE).

News

Person dies in Springfield crash after car plunges off I-495 onto train tracks

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 2, 2023 at 9:10AM | Updated May 2, 2023 at 11:42AM

The westbound I-495 exit to I-395 North (via Google Maps)

(Updated at 11:40 a.m.) One person was killed early this morning (Tuesday) after their vehicle apparently drove off the Capital Beltway (I-495) near the Springfield Mixing Bowl and crashed onto railroad tracks below.

An initial investigation indicates that a Kia was headed west on I-495 towards northbound I-395 when it veered off the interstate near exit 170B, according to Virginia State Police, which responded at 1:19 a.m.

News

Two hospitalized after pickup truck crashes on Beltway, catches fire

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 28, 2023 at 9:30AM

A Virginia State Police vehicle (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A pickup truck carrying multiple vehicles became consumed by fire after crashing on the Capital Beltway (I-495) in the Rose Hill area early this morning (Friday).

Virginia State Police responded to the crash near the Van Dorn Street exit at 3:50 a.m., according to a news release.

News

UPDATED: Construction on I-495 toll lanes can continue during lawsuit, judge says

By Angela Woolsey

Published April 7, 2023 at 9:30AM | Updated April 7, 2023 at 2:11PM

I-495 North approaching the George Washington Memorial Parkway and Georgetown Pike exits (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 2:10 p.m.) Construction on the widening of the Capital Beltway (I-495) can continue while a lawsuit filed by McLean residents works its way through the court system, a federal judge ruled this morning (Friday).

The Northern Virginia Citizens Association had urged U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema to issue a preliminary injunction against the project that would halt all work until further environmental analysis is conducted.

News

Police: Shots fired incident on I-495 still under investigation, started as road rage

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 24, 2023 at 3:15PM

Police closed northbound I-495 at Little River Turnpike after a shooting incident on Sunday (via VDOT/Twitter)

Police are still looking for a driver who fired multiple gunshots at other vehicles on the Capital Beltway (I-495) in the Annandale area on Sunday (March 19).

The shooting was preceded by “aggressive driving behaviors” by occupants of a Mercedes and a silver Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck that were traveling north on I-495 shortly after 5 p.m. that day, according to the Virginia State Police.