Just barely entering the city of Washington, Interstate 66 concludes its relatively short routing in the District of Columbia at its eastern terminus at the Whitehurst Freeway (U.S. 29) near George Washington University. The highway enters the city on the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Bridge and turns northward before quickly terminating at U.S. 29. The highway was originally planned to continue north then east, with plans to meet the never-built Interstate 95 in north-central Washington.
Interstate 66 between the Capital Beltway in Virginia to the east is six lanes. A unique situation existed on the Interstate system where all lanes on Interstate 66 carried a HOV-3 designation during rush hour. Originally, the restriction was HOV-4! The restriction is now HOV-2 for the inbound morning commute and HOV-2 for the outbound westbound commute. In addition, a truck ban is in effect along the route.
West of the beltway, Interstate 66 carries six lanes with a HOV-2 lane that is in effect during peak hours of travel. The Orange Line of the Washington Metro is lined in the median of Interstate 66 as the highway heads towards Fairfax.
The eastern terminus of Interstate 66 occurs at its junction with U.S. 29 (K Street and Whitehurst Freeway) just north of the Watergate Complex and south of Georgetown University in the middle of a mess of ramps and merging lanes. U.S. 29, which bisects the District to the northwest of downtown, heads west along the Whitehurst Freeway and east along K Street from this interchange. The end of Interstate 66 is not well marked.
Interstate 66 - Westbound
This is the first and only shield for Interstate 66 along westbound Interstate 66/Potomac Freeway as it prepares to cross the Roosevelt Bridge. Photo taken 01/20/00 by Jeff Royston.
Interstate 66 - Eastbound
Upon departing Virginia, eastbound Interstate 66/U.S. 50 reaches the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge over the Potomac River. Interstate 66/U.S. 50 enters the District of Columbia immediately upon reaching the bridge, because the boundary between Virginia and the District is the southwestern bank of the Potomac River. The Theodore Roosevelt Bridge, which opened in June 1964, is five lanes wide, with a reversible median that can be adjusted to accommodate heavier flows in each direction. At the time this photo was taken, the bridge was in a configuration of two lanes in each direction with the middle lane acting as a shoulder. Photo taken 06/01/04.
The Theodore Roosevelt Bridge wraps around a curve as it heads east toward Constitution Avenue (via U.S. 50) and K Street (via Interstate 66/Whitehurst Freeway). Originally, this bridge was to serve as a gateway to a major freeway corridor, which would follow Interstate 66 northeast to U.S. 29, then through a tunnel along K Street east to a planned terminus at today's U.S. 50/New York Avenue and Interstate 395 intersection (northern terminus of Interstate 395). That tunnel was never constructed, nor was Interstate 95 north of the U.S. 50/Interstate 395 intersection. As a result, the importance of Interstate 66 is more of a feeder route into the downtown area. For a great deal more information and maps on the District of Columbia, visit Roads to the Future: D.C. Interstates (Scott Kozel) and Takoma Park Design Studio (Highways and Communities): Washington D.C. Freeways (Douglas Willinger). Photo taken 06/01/04.
Oddly, U.S. 50 is treated as the through route on this sign bridge as Interstate 66 and U.S. 50 cross the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge. To remain on Interstate 66 east, stay in the left lane. For U.S. 50/Constitution Avenue east, follow the two right lanes. The first exit from Interstate 66/U.S. 50 east is for Exit 1, Independence Avenue. (We could refer to the Independence Avenue exit as Exit 1, but no exit numbers are used on Interstate 66 within the District. Exit numbers would make our discussion of the routing of Interstate 66 as less of a chore. There are several exits, merges, and splits occur along eastbound Interstate 66 before the freeway reaches its less-than-triumphant end at U.S. 29. Without adequate signage, following Interstate 66 in Washington, D.C. is a chore.) Photo taken 06/01/04.
The Washington Monument is visible to the southeast of the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge. It is the most prominent feature of the Washington, D.C. skyline and is visible from a variety of vantage points throughout the District. To reach the monument, follow U.S. 50/Constitution Avenue east. In fact, to reach most Washington attractions, such as the White House, U.S. Capitol, Mall, and a variety of government buildings, follow U.S. 50 east. Welcome to Washington, D.C.. The motto on the D.C. license plates reads, "Taxation Without Representation," referring to the fact that the District of Columbia is not a state and is therefore not represented in the U.S. Congress. People in the District still pay their federal income tax, of course! Photo taken 06/01/04.
Interstate 66, U.S. 50, and Independence Avenue (Exit 1) split at the east end of the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge. Interstate 66 takes the left lanes northeast to the Whitehurst Freeway, which passes under the Watergate Complex en route to U.S. 29 and K Street. U.S. 50 takes the two main lanes straight ahead onto Constitution Avenue. Independence Avenue leads south past the Lincoln Memorial then east along the south edge of the Capitol Mall. Some maps refer to this stretch of Independence Avenue as Alternate U.S. 50, but there are no signs referring to that designation on the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge. Independence Avenue crosses the district and the Anacostia River (via the Whitney M. Young Bridge), forming Capitol Street on the east side of the river. Capitol Street then continues east into Maryland as Maryland 214/Central Avenue en route to Largo. Surprisingly, this is the final sign (guide sign or reassurance shield) that refers to Interstate 66 eastbound. There are no reassurance shields or any END markers. Photo taken 06/01/04.
Eastbound Interstate 66 continues for another mile past its final sign along the Potomac Freeway, a tiny freeway that was to be a much longer freeway route. Interstate 66 first transitions from the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge, then follows a two-lane ramp north to this split. Be careful; the two lanes to the right exit onto E Street while a single lane exit to the left carries Interstate 66 northeast toward U.S. 29/Whitehurst Freeway. This transition ramp is the first of several surprising, quick on-ramps and off-ramps that make for a confusing driving situation along eastbound, especially along between E Street (Exit 2A) and Pennsylvania Avenue. Photo taken 06/01/04.
The next exit after the E Street exit along eastbound Interstate 66/Potomac Freeway is the Rock Creek Parkway, which is designated for the left lanes. Photo taken 06/01/04.
Interstate 66/Potomac Freeway approaches the tunnel under the Watergate Complex; the left lanes are for the next exit, Rock Creek Parkway, while the right lane is for Interstate 66/Whitehurst Freeway east. Rock Creek Parkway meanders alongside Rock Creek from near the Interstate 66/U.S. 29 interchange north through Kalorama Heights and Adams-Morgan, coming to an end at Connecticut Avenue Northwest. Photo taken 06/01/04.
Eastbound Interstate 66 at the left exit for Rock Creek Parkway. The next exit (visible to the right just ahead) is for Pennsylvania Avenue. Pennsylvania Avenue leads to U.S. 29 north/K Street, Washington Circle, George Washington University, and the White House. Advance warning signs of these exits as well as overhead guide signs here would be very helpful! The split between Pennsylvania Avenue and the Whitehurst Freeway marks the eastern terminus of Interstate 66. Photo taken 06/01/04.
Eastbound Interstate 66/Potomac Freeway reaches the split: the left lanes transition onto southwestbound U.S. 29/Whitehurst Freeway (the U.S. 29 shield of course is missing), while the right lane exits onto Pennsylvania Avenue via L Street. Trouble is, there was really no advance warning that this exit was even coming! Although not signed, Interstate 66 ends here, and U.S. 29 continues as a freeway viaduct to the Francis Scott Key Bridge (follow the sign for Whitehurst Freeway/Canal Road). Photo taken 06/01/04.
U.S. 29/Whitehurst Freeway - Southwestbound
The following series of photos continues along the U.S. 29/Whitehurst Freeway southwest from the eastern terminus of Interstate 66 until U.S. 29 loops onto the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Photo taken 06/01/04.
Although this would be signed as U.S. 29 south, the freeway is essentially heading west along the northeast bank of the Potomac River at this point. U.S. 29 remains elevated on a viaduct as it widens to two lanes along the east bank of the Potomac River. Photo taken 06/01/04.
The freeway ends in one-quarter mile. Again note the lack of Interstate 66 shields. Interstate 66 reaches its eastern terminus just ahead, at its interchange with U.S. 29.
U.S. 29 approaches the Key Bridge along the Whitehurst Freeway and loops onto it by passing underneath the Key Bridge, then turning right at a traffic light onto M Street Northwest. Turn left here to reach Canal Road. U.S. 29 then makes another right to turn onto the Key Bridge into Virginia. Photo taken 06/01/04.
