I-495 NEXT Project

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), along with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and in cooperation with the National Park Service (NPS), prepared a Revised Environmental Assessment (EA) to evaluate the impacts of the extension of the existing I-495 express lanes and new ramp connections along approximately three miles of I-495, also referred to as the Capital Beltway, from their current northern terminus in the vicinity of the Old Dominion Drive overpass (just north of Exit 45 - Dulles Toll Road [Route 267]) to the George Washington Memorial Parkway (Park) in the McLean area of Fairfax County, Virginia (I495 NEXT). The project is adjacent to the Park and will require the permanent use of 0.9 acres of NPS land to facilitate the extension of the express lanes. The purpose for the extension of express lanes on I-495 between Route 267 is to reduce congestion, provide additional travel choices, and improve travel reliability. The goal of the I-495 NEXT project's design is to minimize the visual and physical impacts to the Park while meeting the project's purpose and need. VDOT has also identified opportunities to incorporate elements of design to create an appropriate entry experience for drivers approaching the parkway from the express lanes. Although the proposed express lanes would terminate at the Park, improvements are anticipated to extend approximately 0.3 miles north of the Park in order to provide a tie-in to the existing roadway in the vicinity of the American Legion Memorial Bridge.

The executed FONSI and EA are in the document list. Additional information can be found on the VDOT external website - http://www.495northernextension.org/