August 25, 2022
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Transurban, operator of the 495, 95 and 395 Express Lanes, today announced the south-facing, reversible HOV ramp connecting the 395 Express Lanes to Seminary Road in Alexandria will convert to a standard express lane, or High Occupancy Toll, ramp on Friday, September 9.
Converting the ramp will offer vehicles who are traveling with fewer than three people the option to pay a toll to exit to Seminary Road from the northbound 395 Express Lanes, or to enter the southbound Lanes from Seminary Road.
Dynamic message signs currently installed on Seminary Road will display real-time toll prices to destinations available from the ramp beginning September 9.
Vanpool and carpool customers with an E-ZPass Flex set to HOV ON, buses and motorcycles will continue to enjoy toll-free use of the ramp.
Work to replace the ramp’s on-road HOV regulatory signage and pavement markers with Express Lanes regulatory visuals will require temporary lane closures and shifts. Overnight work along the Express Lanes corridor is scheduled to begin the weekend of August 26 and a temporary traffic shift on Seminary Road is scheduled for August 29 and 30.
The ramp’s HOV-3+ restriction has been in effect since the 395 Express Lanes opened in November 2019. It is the only ramp along the Express Lanes corridor closed to toll-paying customers.
The ramp conversion project is being delivered in partnership by VDOT and Transurban. VDOT is providing oversight, while Transurban is responsible for design, implementation and maintenance.
The first public information meeting about the potential ramp conversion was held in December 2019, however, the project was put on hold in early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. VDOT later held another virtual public meeting in December 2021. Following the public comment period, the Commonwealth Transportation Board approved the conversion in January 2022.