I-495 Southside Express Lanes Study Area

Study area map depicting the 11-mile southern section of I-495 (Capital Beltway) from the Springfield interchange (I-95/I-395/I-495) in Fairfax County, Virginia, across the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge, to the MD 210 interchange in Prince George’s County, Maryland, including potential express lanes access points east of the Springfield Interchange, at South Van Dorn Street, at U.S. Route 1, at I-295, at MD 210, and east of MD 210.

Location Public Hearings to Present Recommended Preferred Alternative

Locations and Details

  • Monday, June 2, 2025: Thomas A. Edison High School (Cafeteria), 5801 Franconia Rd., Alexandria, VA 22310
  • Wednesday, June 4, 2025: Oxon Hill High School (Auditorium), 6701 Leyte Dr., Oxon Hill, MD 20745
  • Monday, June 9, 2025: West Potomac High School (Cafeteria), 6500 Quander Rd., Alexandria, VA 22307
  • Wednesday, June 11, 2025: Nannie J. Lee Memorial Recreation Center, 1108 Jefferson St., Alexandria, VA 22314

In-person Hearing Format

  • Hearing times: 6 – 8 p.m.
  • Hearing format: Open house with a presentation at 6:30 p.m., followed by a formal public comment session
  • Note: The same presentation and information will be provided to the public at all four hearings. Individual questions will be addressed during the open house portion of the hearing, but not during the formal comment session following the presentation. Individuals providing comments will be asked to limit their remarks to not more than three minutes. Organizations will be asked to select one individual to speak for the group. Additionally, all attendees will have the opportunity to provide their comments to the court reporter or submit a written comment form.

Virtual Public Information Room

Hearing Materials

Online Comment Form

This comment form must be submitted by June 26, 2025, to be included in the public hearing report.

The I-495 Southside Express Lanes Study is evaluating the potential extension of the express lanes system on the southern section of the Capital Beltway (I-495) by 11 miles from the Springfield Interchange (I-95/I-395/I-495) in Fairfax County, Virginia, across the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge, to the MD 210 Interchange in Prince George's County, Maryland.

VDOT's recommended preferred alternative is to add two (2) buffer separated express lanes in each direction on I-495 from approximately the railroad bridge west of Van Dorn Street to I-295, at which point they would transition to one lane from there to the MD 210 Interchange to merge back into the existing alignment of the Capital Beltway in Maryland.

Please provide your input below.

Question title

1. Do you agree with the Recommended Preferred Alternative presented by VDOT?

Yes
No
Closed to responses

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2. Do you feel the Recommended Preferred Alternative addresses the following study needs?

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Question title

3. Please provide us with any additional feedback that you believe will assist in advancing the study.

Closed for Comments

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Please provide your contact information (optional):

Information

  • Phase: Study
  • UPC: 122608
  • Length and Limits: 11 miles of the southern section of I-495 (Capital Beltway) from the Springfield Interchange (I-95/I-395/I-495) in Fairfax County, Virginia, across the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge, to the MD 210 Interchange in Prince George’s County, Maryland
  • Localities: City of Alexandria, Fairfax County, Virginia, and Prince George's County, Maryland

Schedule

  • Early 2022: Study initiated
  • May 2022: Public information meetings (study kickoff)
  • September 2023: Public information meetings (preliminary alternative concepts)
  • April 2025: Public information meetings to present findings of traffic/engineering evaluations
  • June 2025: Location public hearings to present the recommended preferred alternative
  • Mid-Late 2025: Regional transportation planning board vote on inclusion in Visualize 2050 plan
  • Late 2025: Public hearing on Environmental Assessment
  • Early 2026: Federal decision on preferred alternative

Get Involved

Your input on the information shared at these public hearings will be reviewed and evaluated by VDOT representatives. Your comments must be received by June 26, 2025, to be included in the public hearing report, and can be provided in the following ways:

Contact Information