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:
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Thursday, May 22 -- 10 a.m. reversal from northbound to southbound
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Friday, May 23 -- 10 a.m. reversal from northbound to southbound
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Saturday, May 24 -- 2 p.m. reversal from southbound to northbound
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Sunday, May 25 -- Lanes northbound all day
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Monday, May 26 -- Memorial Day, Lanes northbound all day
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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:
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Holiday & New Year's Eve 95/395 Reversal Schedule |
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Thursday, 12/19 |
North until 10 a.m. Reversal South from 11:30 a.m. on |
Early reversal |
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Friday, 12/20 |
North until 10 a.m. Reversal South from 11:30 a.m. on |
Early reversal |
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Saturday, 12/21 |
South until 2 p.m. Reversal North from 3:30 p.m. on |
Normal reversal |
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Sunday, 12/22 |
North all day |
No reversal |
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Monday, 12/23 |
North until 10 a.m. Reversal South from 11:30 a.m. on |
Early reversal
|
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Tuesday, 12/24 |
North until 10 a.m. Reversal South from 11:30 a.m. on |
Early reversal |
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Wednesday, 12/25 |
South all day |
No reversal |
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Thursday, 12/26 |
1am |
Normal reversal |
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Thursday, 12/26 |
North until 10 a.m. Reversal South from 11:30 a.m. on |
Early reversal |
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Friday, 12/27 |
North until 10 a.m. Reversal South from 11:30 a.m. on |
Early reversal |
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Saturday, 12/28 |
South until 2 p.m. Reversal North from 3:30 p.m. on |
Normal reversal |
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Sunday, 12/29 |
North all day |
No reversal |
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Monday, 12/30 |
North until 11 a.m. Reversal South from 12:30 p.m. |
Normal reversal |
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Tuesday, 12/31 |
North until 11 a.m. Reversal South from 12:30 p.m. |
Normal reversal |
| Wednesday, 1/1 |
South all day
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No reversal |
| Thursday, 1/2 |
North until 11 a.m. Reversal South from 12:30 p.m. |
Normal reversal |
Defensive Driving Safety Campaign
January 21, 2024
Transurban North America, the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles and the Virginia State Police Launch Safety Campaign in Northern Virginia and Fredericksburg Regions
Challenging drivers to anticipate dangers around them aims to improve safety on highway corridors
TYSONS, Va.—Transurban North America, operator of the 95, 395, and 495 Express Lanes, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the Virginia State Police (VSP) are partnering to launch an innovative defensive driving safety campaign targeted to motorists traveling along interstates 95, 395, and 495.
The campaign uses messaging that urges motorists to drive defensively due to the hazards posed by other travelers’ unsafe behavior, such as speeding, texting, and aggressive driving. The partnership is using results from an initial pilot campaign initiative aimed at Express Lanes users on I-95 and I-495, which showed that positive changes in motorists’ behavior can be achieved through communicating the risk of other drivers’ actions.
“When drivers are aware of potential risks, they’re more likely to adjust their own behaviors and drive more cautiously,” said DMV Commissioner Gerald Lackey, the Governor’s Highway Safety Representative. "By focusing on the unpredictable actions of others—like speeding or texting—we’re tapping into a mindset that encourages drivers to stay alert and take greater responsibility for safety, which we believe will lead to lasting behavior change across Northern Virginia.”
“If you are getting behind the wheel of a vehicle, your safety and the safety of those around you should be a top priority,” said VDOT Commissioner Stephen C. Brich. “Stay focused on the task at hand, drive the posted speed limit, and pay attention to the motorists around you. Our partnered safety campaign with Transurban, DMV, and VSP is set to remind everyone to do just that.”
The campaign will include radio, digital, and social media advertisements funded by the private partner, Transurban. It will also pilot trial messaging on Dynamic Message Signs (DMS) located on both the general purpose and Express Lanes.
“We know, first hand, the difference driver behavior can make in reducing the number of crashes and fatalities on Virginia’s roadways,” said Lt. Col Matt Hanley, Interim Superintendent of the Virginia State Police. “We encourage all drivers to slow down, limit distractions, and drive defensively so that everyone can get to their destination safely.”
Through the public-private partnership effort, Transurban, VDOT, DMV and VSP are focused on reversing a deadly trend. Motor vehicle crashes were one of the top four leading causes of death from 2015 to 2019 for Virginians between the ages of 5 and 34, according to the Virginia Strategic Highway Safety Plan. In 2023, 23,309 crashes occurred on Virginia interstates resulting in 139 fatalities, according to the DMV.
“Safety is personal to us at Transurban – both as a company with safety at the forefront of our Express Lanes operations and as community members traveling our region’s roadways every day,” said Beau Memory, President, Transurban North America. “That is why together with our partners, Transurban is putting cutting-edge behavioral research to work with the launch of this safety campaign to move this region further towards its Vision Zero goals by promoting a defensive driving mindset.”
A fall 2023 pilot conducted by Transurban found the message “Watch Out for Speeders” on roadway DMS helped decrease speeding along the corridor by about 2%. While seemingly slight, studies have shown that this would equate to an approximate 8% reduction in fatality risk.
A spring 2022 survey of 400 Washington, D.C. regional drivers commissioned by Transurban and conducted by APCO Insight informed the on-road pilot. It found drivers overwhelmingly feel they are safe on the road despite engaging in risky behavior, like texting and speeding, while simultaneously believing others on the road cannot safely drive and engage in those behaviors. Further, advisory sign messages that warned of other drivers’ dangerous behaviors were ranked by motorists as a top reason to improve their own behavior.
Throughout the defensive driving campaign, continued research is anticipated to expand roadway safety knowledge and effectiveness of driver behavior initiatives.
Together, VDOT and Transurban are currently delivering the 495 Express Lanes Northern Extension (495 NEXT) project that will offer new travel options to the millions of customers who travel the Express Lanes network.
For over a dozen years, Transurban has worked alongside the Commonwealth of Virginia to improve the safety of motorists on some of the most heavily-traveled highway corridors in the Washington, D.C., region while constructing complex infrastructure projects.
Thanksgiving 2024 Travel Holiday Schedule
November 20, 2024
Plan your trip on the 95/395 Express Lanes this Thanksgiving.
The standard weekly overnight reversal from 1 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. (except on Mondays), remains unchanged.
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Thursday, 11/21 |
North until 10 a.m. Reversal South from 11:30 a.m. on |
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Friday, 11/22 |
North until 10 a.m. Reversal South from 11:30 a.m. on |
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Saturday, 11/23 |
South until 2 p.m. Reversal North from 3:30 p.m. on |
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Sunday, 11/24 |
North all day |
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Monday, 11/25 |
North until 10 a.m. Reversal South from 11:30 a.m. on |
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Tuesday, 11/26 |
North until 10 a.m. Reversal South from 11:30 a.m. on |
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Wednesday, 11/27 |
North until 10 a.m. Reversal South from 11:30 a.m. on |
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Thursday, 11/28 |
No reversal South all day |
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Friday, 11/29 |
North until 10 a.m. Reversal South from 11:30 a.m. on |
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Saturday, 11/30 onwards |
South until 2 p.m. Reversal North from 3:30 p.m. on |
95 Express Lanes Opitz Boulevard Ramp to Open Nov. 14
November 5, 2024
Transurban, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the Shirley Contracting Company, is scheduled to open a new access point to the 95 Express Lanes from Opitz Boulevard in Woodbridge on Nov. 14, 2024, at approximately 10 p.m. The new access point will be open in the northbound direction for morning rush hour on Friday, Nov. 15.
“In one of the busiest corridors in the Commonwealth, we are proud to deliver yet another way for drivers to get where they need to go with our partners at Transurban and Shirley,” said Michelle Shropshire, P.E., VDOT Northern Virginia District Megaprojects Director. “The new connection between Opitz Boulevard and the 95 Express Lanes will provide new access for drivers coming from Prince William County and points south, helping to relieve congestion locally and on I-95.”
The $70 million project, fully funded by Transurban, connects the 95 Express Lanes to a fast-growing community that includes major employers at Sentara Medical Center and Potomac Mills. It is the first stand-alone direct access ramp to be developed into Transurban's existing Express Lanes network.
“The Opitz Boulevard Project is a great example of Transurban’s commitment to improving mobility in collaboration with our partners at VDOT,” said Beau Memory, President, Transurban North America. “We are always looking for more ways to provide faster, more reliable trips—Consistently enhancing and innovating along our roads is one way we build connections throughout our communities—Opitz being the fourth on the 95 Express Lanes since opening in 2014.”
The 95 Express Lanes Opitz Boulevard Ramp Project involves adding a reversible, south-facing ramp that provides direct access to the 95 Express Lanes, providing northbound access to Opitz Boulevard during morning commutes and southbound access from Opitz Boulevard during afternoon commutes. The project also includes the rehabilitation and widening of the Opitz Boulevard bridge over I-95 including left-turn lanes in both directions and a new sidewalk for bicyclists and pedestrians.
These improvements are expected to not only provide faster, more reliable trips on the 95 Express Lanes to more drivers, but also help traffic flow from one side of the highway to the other on Opitz Boulevard.