New biking and walking path in McLean thanks to the 495 NEXT project
July 30, 2025
The 495 Express Lanes Northern Extension project is delivering a new shared-use trail that will run parallel to I-495 in McLean, Virginia, from Lewinsville Road to near Live Oak Drive.
The pathway will enable new opportunities for bicycle and pedestrian travel around McLean and nearby Tysons while offering new connections to Scott's Run Nature Preserve along the Potomac River.
This new multimodal infrastructure will sit behind noise walls and was designed in coordination with Fairfax County to advance the County's bike plan.
Learn more about the 495 NEXT project and the trail on the project website.
Reversal Schedule for Army's 250th
June 11, 2025
To help keep traffic moving to and from D.C. during events for the Army's 250th Birthday this Saturday, the reversal schedule on the 95 and 395 Express Lanes is being adjusted:
Saturday, June 14
- The reversal from southbound to northbound will begin at noon instead of 2 p.m.
- The Lanes will be fully open northbound by about 1:30 p.m.
- The Lanes will start southbound reversal around 6 p.m.
- By about 7:30 p.m., the Lanes will be fully open for southbound travel and remain southbound throughout the day
Sunday, June 15
- The Lanes will start reversal from southbound to northbound around 1 a.m.
- From about 3:30 a.m. on, the Lanes will be fully open northbound
Additionally, in coordination with other regional closures, the 395 Express Lanes northbound exit ramp to Route 27 / Washington Boulevard will be closed on Saturday.
The exit to the National Mall/Route 1 from the 14th Street 395 Express Lanes bridge will be closed from Thursday evening to early morning Monday. All traffic will be directed east toward Capitol Hill.
Overnight closures on the 95 and 395 Express Lanes this Summer
June 3, 2025
It's the summer of smooth as crews work on paving operations on the 95/395 Express Lanes.
Work will close travel lanes between near the Fullerton Rd./Backlick Rd. interchange to near Edsall Road during overnight periods starting Wednesday, June 4 and lasting throughout the summer.
At least two lanes will be closed during the work periods with full closures in effect from about 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Sunday through Thursday.
During full closures, northbound Express Lanes customers will be diverted to I-95 NB near Fort Belvoir and may re-enter the 395 Express Lanes northbound from Edsall Road.
Southbound Express Lanes traffic will be diverted to I-395 SB at MM 2.0 and may re-enter the 95 Express Lanes southbound from I-95 after Franconia-Springfield Parkway. Overnight reversal on all other segments remains the same at 1 a.m.
The schedule is subject to change due to weather conditions or other circumstances.
|
Day |
Time |
Closure Type |
|
Sunday-Thursday |
8 p.m. – 10 p.m. |
Two-lanes |
|
|
10 p.m. – 4 a.m. |
Full closure |
|
Friday |
9 p.m. – 8 a.m. |
Two-lane closure |
|
Saturday |
8 p.m. – 8 a.m. |
Two-lane closure |
Memorial Day and Summer 2025 Reversal Schedule
May 16, 2025
The 95 and 395 Express Lanes weekday summer reversal goes into effect on May 22. The Lanes will reverse at 10 a.m. on weekdays throughout the summer. Overnight and weekend reversal times will stay the same.
And, to help smooth travels around the holiday, the Lanes will stay open north all day on Monday, May 26.
Here's what to expect for the holiday and this summer:
-
Thursday, May 22 -- 10 a.m. reversal from northbound to southbound
-
Friday, May 23 -- 10 a.m. reversal from northbound to southbound
-
Saturday, May 24 -- 2 p.m. reversal from southbound to northbound
-
Sunday, May 25 -- Lanes northbound all day
-
Monday, May 26 -- Memorial Day, Lanes northbound all day
-
Tuesday, May 27 -- 10 a.m. reversal from northbound to southbound
The summer reversal schedule will continue through Sept. 2, 2025.
Watch Out for Unpaid Toll Text Scams
February 26, 2025
The express version
- These text messages often pretend to be from your state's department of transportation or toll facility
Toll text scams are on the rise, targeting drivers across the United States. These scams send fake text messages claiming you owe money for unpaid tolls, aiming to steal your personal information.
Remember: The 495, 95, and 395 Express Lanes do NOT send texts to you about unpaid tolls. We communicate with our customers through mail, email, and our call center.
You can sign up for missed toll alerts, but only via email.
What to do if you receive a scam text:
- Don't respond or click any links
- Report the message as junk/spam
- File a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
Examples of toll text scams:
Stay vigilant and keep your travels smooth and secure!
What to expect on the 495 Express Lanes Jan. 24 to Jan. 27
January 17, 2025
Major construction work will require major lane closures on the northbound stretch of I-495 near Tysons from about 9 p.m. on Jan. 24 to the early morning of Jan. 27. Drivers should expect delays on the inner loop and around the Dulles Toll Road.
Check out the 495 NEXT project site for all the regional details and closure information.
Here's what to expect on the Express Lanes.
Southbound 495 Express Lanes
- Open and running per usual
Northbound 495 Express Lanes
- South of Route 7/Leesburg Pike, the 495 Express Lanes will remain open per usual with tolling in place.
- North of Route 7, drivers already on the Lanes will be detoured off at the Route 7 exit starting at about 9 p.m. on Jan. 24.
- Once at the Route 7/I-495 interchange, drivers can choose to re-enter the regular lanes of I-495.
- After taking the Route 7 entry ramp to I-495, drivers will be detoured back into the 495 Express Lanes.
- Tolls on the northbound 495 Express Lanes will be suspended from Route 7 to the end of the Lanes. Signage will advise drivers of the toll suspension.
Customers who travel the southbound 495 Express Lanes or the northbound 495 Express Lanes south of Route 7 and have issues with their trip can always reach our customer service center.
395 Express Lanes Closures on Jan. 20
January 15, 2025
At the direction of VDOT, the northbound 395 Express Lanes will be closed from midnight to 11 a.m. on January 20, a federal holiday.
Here's what drivers can expect:
From midnight to 11 a.m.:
- All access ramps to the northbound 395 Express Lanes will be closed.
- Drivers on the 95 Express Lanes will be detoured to the regular Ianes on I-95 near Edsall Road.
From 11 a.m. to around 12:30 p.m.
- The reversal will begin at the standard time of 11 a.m.
- Access ramps to the southbound 395 Express Lanes at and south of Washington Blvd. are scheduled to open within the standard window, by about 12:30 p.m.
From 12:30 p.m. on:
- Access ramps north of Washington Blvd. -- at Eads St. and from the southbound HOV bridge coming from D.C. -- will remain closed until Inauguration events conclude in the evening.
Drivers traveling on I-395 on January 20th are advised to extra caution.
Information on other regional roadway closures in Virginia and D.C. can be found below:
2025 Presidential Inauguration Traffic Restrictions | inauguration
BIG BEAM WEEKEND JAN. 24-27 Massive bridge girders to be installed over I-495/Capital Beltway in VA for 495 Express Lanes Northern Extension Project
January 13, 2025
Weekend-long travel impacts on Beltway near Tysons and at I-495/Dulles Corridor interchange; motorists urged to plan ahead and stay away
FAIRFAX — Crews are preparing to install five lines of massive steel girders extending 295-feet in length across northbound I-495 (Capital Beltway) for a new express lanes ramp that will connect the Dulles Toll Road to northbound I-495. This major bridge girder operation - the Big Beam Weekend - is scheduled to occur Friday night, January 24 through early Monday morning, January 27, and will impact travel significantly on northbound I-495 near Tysons and at the I-495 and Dulles Corridor interchange area. Motorists are urged to STAY AWAY throughout the weekend as northbound I-495 will be reduced from six to two lanes near Tysons, and multiple ramps at the I-495 and Dulles Corridor interchange will be closed and detoured. In the event of inclement weather, the Big Beam Weekend will be rescheduled for the following weekend, Jan. 31 through Feb. 3.
Specifically, traffic on northbound I-495 will be reduced from six lanes (four general- purpose and two express) to two lanes for about a one-mile stretch near Tysons during the entire Big Beam Weekend. The two open lanes will function as non-tolled, general- purpose lanes and be open to all traffic. Motorists should stay alert to lane reductions and traffic shifts that will be in place for approximately three miles beginning at the Route 7 interchange until just past Lewinsville Road (north of Route 267).
Additionally, the ramp from eastbound Dulles Toll Road/Dulles Airport Access Highway to northbound I-495, as well as westbound Dulles Toll Road under I-495, will be closed and detoured. The Dulles Airport Access Highway will remain open throughout the Big Beam Weekend; however, airport travelers are encouraged to allow extra time to get to Dulles International Airport due to the surrounding traffic impacts.
Motorists are urged to stay away from northbound I-495 in Virginia the entire weekend of January 24-27 and should choose alternate routes. If travel through the area is unavoidable, drivers should expect delays and traffic backups. To inform local and long-distance travelers about the Big Beam Weekend-lane closures and detours, messaging on roadway signs will be deployed in advance throughout the directly impacted area and on major outlying corridors such as Interstates 95 and 81. Click here to view maps showing closures and traffic impacts.
To plan ahead and stay informed about the Big Beam Weekend, affected travelers should check VA 511 online at 511.vdot.virginia.gov, on the mobile app., or by calling 511 from any phone in Virginia. Travelers are also encouraged to sign up for email alerts at 495next.vdot.virginia.gov.
About the Big Beam Weekend
Five lines of steel girders (made up of 10 beams) will be lifted over northbound I-495 to support a new express lanes ramp as part of the 495 Express Lanes Northern Extension (495 NEXT) project. Each girder is 11-feet tall by 3-feet wide, and weighs between 70 to 80 tons. Beams are being delivered by truck to a staging area lying flat, due to their size, and must be stood upright by cranes upon arrival.
During the Big Beam Weekend, beams will be hoisted by cranes and secured into place. This critical work cannot be done overtop traffic and requires lane closures to be in place. Typically, this type of planned construction occurs during nighttime hours or non-peak travel times to limit impacts to the traveling public. However, due to the magnitude of the Big Beam operation – the largest girders to be installed on the 495 NEXT project – an extended work period is necessary for the safety of travelers and workers alike.
About 495 NEXT Project:
The $660 million 495 NEXT project is a public-private partnership between the Commonwealth of Virginia and Transurban. Lane Construction is the lead design-build contractor, with Shirley Contracting Company building the improvements and express lanes access at the I-495 and Dulles Corridor interchange. The 495 NEXT project is building a 2.5-mile extension of the 495 Express Lanes including new connections at the Dulles Corridor and the George Washington Memorial Parkway interchanges. The project includes additional benefits and features such as replacement or rehabilitation of seven bridges, new and replacement upgraded noise walls, and four miles of new bicycle and pedestrian connections. Construction began in March 2022, with the new extended lanes scheduled to open in late 2025, followed by final project completion in mid-2026.
For more information please contact: Michelle Holland at michelle.holland@vdot.virginia.gov or 703-586-0487
Community Grant Program Impact Report
January 6, 2025
Over the past decade, we have remained committed to being a responsible neighbor and building lasting partnerships through our community grant programs in Northern Virginia.
Check our first-ever Community Grant Program Impact Report to learn more about our philanthropic efforts.
Holiday & New Year's Reversal Schedule
December 18, 2024
Wishing you a safe & joyful holiday season. Cruise into the new year confidently with our 95/395 Express Lanes reversal schedule:
|
Holiday & New Year's Eve 95/395 Reversal Schedule |
||
|
Thursday, 12/19 |
North until 10 a.m. Reversal South from 11:30 a.m. on |
Early reversal |
|
Friday, 12/20 |
North until 10 a.m. Reversal South from 11:30 a.m. on |
Early reversal |
|
Saturday, 12/21 |
South until 2 p.m. Reversal North from 3:30 p.m. on |
Normal reversal |
|
Sunday, 12/22 |
North all day |
No reversal |
|
Monday, 12/23 |
North until 10 a.m. Reversal South from 11:30 a.m. on |
Early reversal
|
|
Tuesday, 12/24 |
North until 10 a.m. Reversal South from 11:30 a.m. on |
Early reversal |
|
Wednesday, 12/25 |
South all day |
No reversal |
|
Thursday, 12/26 |
1am |
Normal reversal |
|
Thursday, 12/26 |
North until 10 a.m. Reversal South from 11:30 a.m. on |
Early reversal |
|
Friday, 12/27 |
North until 10 a.m. Reversal South from 11:30 a.m. on |
Early reversal |
|
Saturday, 12/28 |
South until 2 p.m. Reversal North from 3:30 p.m. on |
Normal reversal |
|
Sunday, 12/29 |
North all day |
No reversal |
|
Monday, 12/30 |
North until 11 a.m. Reversal South from 12:30 p.m. |
Normal reversal |
|
Tuesday, 12/31 |
North until 11 a.m. Reversal South from 12:30 p.m. |
Normal reversal |
| Wednesday, 1/1 |
South all day
|
No reversal |
| Thursday, 1/2 |
North until 11 a.m. Reversal South from 12:30 p.m. |
Normal reversal |