New traffic pattern along northern section of George Washington Memorial Parkway
WASHINGTON - Commuters will need to adjust to a new traffic pattern along a portion of the George Washington Memorial Parkway.
National Park Service officials say crews have installed a temporary lane in the median of the Parkway between I-495 and the Route 123 interchange. This temporary lane they say will serve as a reversible lane, which will provide the flexibility to change direction for morning and evening rush hours.
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GW Parkway traffic changes: What you need to know for your commute
A new traffic pattern will go into effect on Saturday on the George Washington Memorial Parkway and will last until 2025.
NPS officials say during the morning rush hour between 5:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m., two lanes will carry traffic southbound toward Washington, D.C. During the evening rush hour between 2:45 p.m. and 7:15 p.m., two lanes will carry traffic northbound toward Maryland.
NPS began implementing the new, temporary traffic pattern Saturday, April 22. It is part of the ongoing North Parkway Rehabilitation Project. They expect the three-lane traffic pattern to be in effect through late 2025.
Ongoing construction on GW Parkway
The first week of any new construction project can cause some headaches, and the traffic pattern changes on the George Washington Parkway are no exception. FOX 5's David Kaplan breaks down what's different, how drivers are adapting, and how long the changes will be part of daily commutes.
Here's a breakdown of the new George Washington Memorial Parkway traffic pattern:
Weekday morning rush hour (5:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.)
-Two lanes southbound (toward Washington, DC).
-Drivers who need to exit at Route 123 or CIA Headquarters must use the right lane.
-One lane northbound (toward Maryland/Virginia).
Weekday evening rush hour (2:45 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.)
-Two lanes northbound (toward Maryland/Virginia).
-Drivers who need to exit at Route 123 or CIA Headquarters must use the right lane.
-One lane southbound (toward Washington, DC).
Weekdays (9:30 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.) and weekends
-One lane southbound (toward Washington, DC).
-One lane northbound (toward Maryland/Virginia).
More details about the traffic switch can be found online.