495 Express Lanes Extension’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail Planned to Open June 27

May 21, 2026

Project partners to host community “4.95K Fun Run” event on opening day to highlight new multimodal infrastructure mobility connections in McLean


McLEAN, Va. – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Transurban, the Commonwealth’s private partner and operator of the 495 Express Lanes, today announced that a new shared-use bicycle and pedestrian trail—one of the final multimodal features of the 495 Express Lanes Northern Extension (495 NEXT) project—is scheduled to open to the public on Saturday, June 27.

The approximate two-and-a-half-mile trail runs parallel to I-495 (Capital Beltway) between Lewinsville Road and Live Oak Drive in northern Virginia’s McLean area, and will provide a new, paved bicycle and pedestrian facility with connections to Scott’s Run Nature Preserve and Fairfax County Park Authority’s trail system. Situated behind new noise walls, the trail provides a safe, separated facility for bicyclists and pedestrians with newly-built connections across the Beltway at Lewinsville Road, Old Dominion Drive, and Georgetown Pike.

“The upcoming opening of the new bicycle and pedestrian trail parallel to I-495 in McLean marks a significant milestone in the 495 NEXT project,” commented Michelle Shropshire, VDOT’s Northern Virginia Deputy District Engineer and Megaprojects Director. “While the new express lanes extension opened to traffic in November 2025, the new shared-use path is an important project feature that demonstrates VDOT’s ongoing commitment to delivering multimodal benefits as part of our express lanes projects.”

“We are excited to bring one more way our communities can connect via these new shared use paths, delivering yet another travel choice to Northern Virginia,” said Beau Memory, President, Transurban North America. “Providing accessibility to our outdoor spaces for walkers, bike riders and more supports our neighbors’ wellbeing and helps more people enjoy our region.” 

To celebrate the opening of the trail, VDOT and Transurban will host a free community 4.95 kilometer fun-run-style event on the morning of Saturday, June 27. This family-friendly event is designed to introduce neighbors and outdoor enthusiasts to the new access and connectivity for bicyclists and pedestrians.

 The 4.95k Fun Run event will celebrate the newest addition to the trail network in Fairfax County:

  • The event will begin at the future Scott’s Run Nature Preserve annex parking lot, another important community feature built as part of the 495 NEXT project that will open for public use in the coming months. Guests arriving by car should park at nearby Holy Trinity Church in McLean and walk a short distance to the lot. Free family-friendly entertainment will be available in the lot before and after the run.
  • The casual run will begin at about 8:30 a.m. following brief remarks from project leadership. Runners will depart the annex lot to cross westbound over Georgetown Pike bridge before heading south on the shared-used trail. Participants will travel nearly the full length of the trail to near Lewinsville Road before backtracking to the bridge for a total distance of 4.95 kilometers—a nod to the project’s name.
  • Participation is free but registration is required. Members of the public are encouraged to visit runsignup.com/Race/VA/McLean/495FunRun to learn more about the event, view the course map, and register to attend.
  • A “kid friendly” run will be offered later in the morning at 9:15 a.m.

While sections of the 495 trail are traversable, it remains under construction and closed to the public until June 27. Remaining trail work includes completing the installation of handrails and fencing. Additionally, the trail is being used by trucks and other equipment involved in the 495 NEXT project’s revegetation.


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