Stop-and-go traffic congestion on the Beltway/I-495 approaching the Woodrow Wilson Bridge from vehicles traveling both the east and west is a frequent, frustrating headache for many drivers, especially daily commuters. 

The Virginia Department of Transportation has a possible solution – 11 additional miles of express toll lanes. 

At public meetings on April 1, 2, 7 and 9, VDOT officials presented the I-495 Southside Express Lanes Study, which started in 2022 and focuses on the stretch of the Beltway from the Springfield interchange (I-95/I-395/I-495) to the route 210 interchange in Maryland near National Harbor.

On April 1 at West Potomac High School, Michelle Shropshire predicted, “Traffic conditions will get much worse,” citing modeling from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. Shropshire is the VDOT Megaprojects Director for VDOT’s Northern Virginia District. VDOT’s analyses predict that under the “no build” alternative (existing conditions) by 2050, on westbound lanes, morning travel times could more than double, from 16 to 52 minutes; on eastbound lanes in the afternoons and evenings, from 21 to 54 minutes.

They presented three options: no build; one express lane in each direction from Van Dorn Street to the Maryland 210 interchange; and two express lanes in each direction from Van Dorn Street to the I-295 interchange. 

There would be no loss of existing lanes. “We would use the space we now have,” said Shropshire. Describing the current 94 miles of express or “managed lanes” in Northern Virginia as “a robust system,” these plans would fill a gap, the last segment without express lanes.

The VDOT officials’ justifications for the project’s needs are providing continuity in the current system; offering more travel choices; reducing congestion; improving safety; and providing consistency with local and regional plans.

Today, over 200,000 vehicles travel on Interstate 495 between the Springfield interchange and Interstate 295 on average each day. During peak hours, by 2050, adding one lane could move 1,600 more people, VDOT contends. Adding two lanes could move 2,400 more people. They said that currently 50 percent of vehicles going east exit at route 210 or Interstate 295 in Maryland.

Access points to and from the toll lanes would be at Van Dorn Street, U.S. 1 and interstate 295 and route 210 in Maryland. The footprint of the current interchange at U.S. 1 will not change, they said. 

Officials cited a VDOT commissioner’s letter and federal commitments to preserve the option for Metrorail on this stretch of the highway. “Rail preservation commitment would be incorporated as part of the environmental (NEPA) process, which must receive federal approval,” states VDOT’s document and continues, “Terms within any potential contract with or concessionaire [a private partner] would incorporate a requirement for conversion to rail transit in the future.” The Wilson Bridge’s design left space for transit or express lanes. Shropshire said, adding, “Both build alternatives have rail preservation when the region deems it appropriate.” 

The project also includes possible new bicycle and pedestrian trails.

Holly Dougherty, President of the Mount Vernon Springfield Chamber of Commerce welcomed the study and offered, “We are hopeful that extending the express lanes will be another component of a robust transportation system that benefits economic growth.”

Doubts and Questions

At the April 1 hearing, attendees raised questions about costs, financing and traffic predictions. Mount Vernonite Greg Crider who attended the meeting said, "It seems that nobody attending the meetings are for the express lanes, except VDOT.  Perhaps VDOT should shut down the study and spend its resources elsewhere.”

Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth, has multiple concerns. “From the outset this has been a biased study that starts with their conclusions-first ‘purpose and need’ statement to ‘extend and provide continuity of the Express Lanes system,’” he emailed, “which effectively excludes other alternatives like transit with transit-oriented development from satisfying their self-defined purpose.” 

Many studies on highway widening projects show that the expanded I-495 would generate more traffic, Schwartz emphasizes, a phenomenon called “induced demand,” build it and they will come. More driving cancels out any congestion reduction within five to ten years, Coalition for Smarter Growth maintains.

Schwartz also argues that this expansion could block future rail. “The bridge was explicitly designed to hold the weight of Metrorail. Metrorail was a top goal of the public and the city of Alexandria and Prince George's County when the lawsuits were settled over the Woodrow Wilson Bridge,” he said. “VDOT is not providing documentation and legally binding assurances that the toll lanes will be removed to place Metrorail on the bridge."

He also charges that the study fails to analyze the traffic impacts on connecting roads like U.S. 1, Telegraph Road and Van Dorn Street.

At the April 1 meeting, Mount Vernon Supervisor Dan Storck urged people to share their concerns. "I'd like to stress the importance of your engagement. This is not a done deal for the Mount Vernon community. You should get your concerns addressed. There will be more opportunities. We need to hear from you," he said.

https://www.vdot.virginia.gov/media/vdotvirginiagov/projects/northern-virginia/i-495-southside-express-lanes-study/495-Southside-April-2025-Public-Information-Meetings-Presentation_acc03312025_PM.pdf