Site Navigation Delaware District of Columbia Maryland New Jersey Pennsylvania Virginia West Virginia     Interstate 295 / Anacostia Freeway Known as the Anacostia Freeway (because of the river it parallels), Interstate 295 provides an alternate to the eastern portion of the Capital Beltway. The freeway overall is four lanes, with many slip ramps serving communities in southeastern Washington. The designation ends at the junction of the Southeast Freeway and D.C. 295. The Interstate designation does not continue northward do to the non-Interstate standard conditions that exist for the highway there. The route was planned to cross the Anacostia River and continue northward to the never-built Interstate 95. Part of this route was proposed to be constructed as late as 1998, as part of the Barney Circle Freeway. However, the Barney Circle Freeway and bridge was dropped due to vehement opposition, so now Interstate 295 ends at the Southeast Freeway/Pennsylvania Avenue overpass. District of Columbia 295 begins at this point and continues north toward the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. Interstate 295 North Interstate 295 crosses the Oxon Creek between Oxon Hill Farm and the District of Columbia. The four lane causeway carries the freeway northward from the Capital Beltway to Bellevue in southeastern Washington. Photo taken 09/25/04. The first interchange of the Anacostia Freeway northbound serves the U.S. Naval Research Lab via Laboratory Road westbound. A trumpet interchange joins Interstate 295 with Shepherd Parkway the just east of Overlook Avenue. Photo taken 09/25/04. Exit 1 also serves D.C. Village and the Blue Plains Academy. Photo taken 09/25/04. The right-hand lane becomes exit only for Exit 1 to Laboratory Road west and Sheppard Parkway on Interstate 295 northbound. The pull-through panel omits an Interstate 295 shield as it directs motorists northward toward Downtown Washington. Photo taken 09/25/04. Exit 1 auxiliary guide sign mentioning the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory again. The facility lies west of Overlook Avenue, a north-south street parallel to the Anacostia Freeway. Photo taken 09/25/04. Interstate 295 passes over Shepherd Parkway at the Exit 1 off-ramp to the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and Laboratory Road west. Overlook Avenue travels north from Perimeter Road in the Blue Plains section of Washington to Bolling Air Force Base. Photo taken 09/25/04. Interstate 295 northbound lines up against the Shepherd Parkway natural area from Exit 1 northward to Congress Heights. The second reassurance shield resides at the Chesapeake Street underpass. A northbound on-ramp merges onto the Anacostia Freeway from Chesapeake Street ahead. Photo taken 09/25/04. The next interchange of Interstate 295 joins the Anacostia Freeway with Malcolm X Avenue and Bolling Air Force Base. Bolling AFB lines the Potomac River to the west of Interstate 295. Malcolm X Avenue stems east from the MacDill Boulevard entrance to the base to Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and 8th Street SE. Photo taken 09/25/04. One half mile south of the partial interchange with Malcolm X Avenue at the South Capital Street under crossing. South Capital Street meanders north from Maryland 210 (Indian Head Highway) through Washington Highlands to Bolling Air Force Base, Anacostia Naval Station, and the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge. The four-lane divided highway sees an on-ramp to Interstate 295 north ahead and a diamond interchange at Malcolm X Avenue west of Exit 2. Photo taken 09/25/04. Northbound reassurance shield posted between the South Capital Street on-ramp and the Malcolm X Avenue off-ramp (Exit 2). Photo taken 09/25/04. 0.25-mile sign posted for the Malcolm X loop ramp at Exit 2 on Interstate 295 north. Malcolm Avenue serves the main gate of Bolling Air Force Base to the west. The avenue continues east to the Congress Heights neighborhood. Photo taken 09/25/04. Interstate 295 northbound at the Exit 2 ramp departure for Malcolm X Avenue. Use Malcolm X Avenue for South Capital Street to Anacostia Naval Station and Washington Highlands. Photo taken 09/25/04. The United States Capital Dome draws into view one mile south of the Suitland Parkway three-quarter cloverleaf interchange (Exits 3A/B). Suitland Parkway ventures east from the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge to Barry Farms, Buena Vista, Douglass, Shirley Terrace, and Knox Hill before departing the District of Columbia. Photo taken 09/25/04. Interstate 295 (Anacostia Freeway) northbound one half mile south of the Exit 3A off-ramp to the intersection of Sumner Road and Firth Sterling Avenue. Firth Sterling Avenue travels west from Howard Road and Suitland Parkway to South Capital Avenue at the Anacostia Naval Annex. Photo taken 09/25/04. Exit 3A departs Interstate 295 northbound for Firth Sterling Avenue and Suitland Parkway. Sumner Road carries motorists east three blocks directly onto the parkway eastbound. Suitland Parkway continues east of Washington to Morningside and Andrews Air Force Base at junction Interstates 95 & 495. Photo taken 09/25/04. Interstate 295 curves northeast over Suitland Parkway between Exits 3A and 3B. A reassurance marker lies between the two ramps. Photo taken 09/25/04. Exit 3B leaves Interstate 295 northbound for Suitland Parkway west onto the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge across the Anacostia River. South Capital Street utilizes the span between Anacostia Park and Downtown Washington. Variable message boards attached to the Exit 3B overheads advise of draw bridge openings. Photo taken 09/25/04. Interstate 295 prepares to split with the Anacostia Freeway for the 11th Street Bridge and the Southeast Freeway (unsigned Interstate 695). District of Columbia 295 continues the Anacostia Freeway northbound to Fairlawn, River Terrace, Eastland Gardens, and junction U.S. 50 at Cheverly, Maryland. Photo taken 09/25/04. The diagrammatical overheads for the Interstate 295 (11th Street Bridge) and District of Columbia 295 (Anacostia Freeway) feature trailblazers for Interstate 395 and Interstate 95 & U.S. 50 respectively. Interstate 295 follows the 11th Street Bridge north to junction Interstate 695 (Southeast Freeway). District of Columbia 295 continues the Anacostia Freeway northeast to the Baltimore-Washington Parkway (Maryland 295) at Tuxedo, Maryland. Photo taken 09/25/04. Interstate 295 exits from itself via Exit 4 onto the 11th Street Bridge. The Anacostia Freeway continues northeast to Interstate 95 north for Baltimore and U.S. 50 east for Annapolis. Traffic interests to Downtown Washington and the Washington Navy Yard should take the 11th Street Bridge north across the Anacostia River. Photo taken 09/25/04. Interstate 295 becomes an unsigned route across the 11th Street Bridge as it crosses the Anacostia River. The freeway defaults onto the Southeast Freeway westbound for downtown Washington and junction Interstate 395. The right-hand two lanes default onto 12th Street SE northbound for M Street and the Washington Navy Yard. Photo taken 09/25/04. Traffic to M Street and the Washington Navy Yard departs Interstate 295 northbound at the north end of the 11th Street Bridge. A left-hand lane begins for the Barney Circle Freeway ramps that serve RFK Stadium via Pennsylvania Avenue. The RFK ramps are only open during stadium events such as Washington Nationals Baseball games or D.C. United Soccer games. M Street parallels the Southeast Freeway from Maine Avenue east to Water Street. Photo taken 09/25/04. Interstate 295 northbound prepares to merge with Interstate 695 (Southeast Freeway) westbound over the intersection of M Street and 11th Street SE. The RFK Stadium ramps to the Southeast Freeway east were to have continued Interstate 295 northbound onto the Barney Circle Freeway. The Barney Circle Freeway was to follow the Anacostia River northward from Interstate 695 to a new Anacostia River bridge near East Capitol Street and from there to District of Columbia 295 (Kenilworth Avenue freeway). Photo taken 09/25/04. The Interstate 295 northbound flyover ramp onto the Southeast Freeway westbound features one final off-ramp before merging onto Interstate 695 west. The exit serves 8th Street SE via I Street SE westbound. 8th Street SE stems northward to Pennsylvania Avenue and Capitol Hill. Photo taken 09/25/04. The split of traffic for Interstate 695 west and I Street SE for Eighth Street SE. Interstate 295 draws to a close at the merge onto the Southeast Freeway ahead. Photo taken 09/25/04. Interstate 295 - South After the Interstate 695/Pennsylvania Avenue exit, Interstate 295 begins its southerly journey on this transition ramp between Interstate 695 and the Anacostia River Bridge. The viaduct features no shoulders and is below Interstate standards. Photo taken 06/01/04. Interstate 295 passes by the Washington Navy Yard to the southwest of the freeway. Photo taken 06/01/04. The first exits along southbound Interstate 295 are Exit 5B, Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue southeast to Washington Highlands and Exit 5A, Anacostia Park. These exit numbers are not posted, but they reflect the approximate mileage from the boundary between the District and Maryland. This interchange is approximately six miles north of the southern terminus at the Capital Beltway (Junction Interstate 495). Photo taken 06/01/04. The four-lane freeway crosses the Anacostia River, with the two right lanes becoming the through lanes for southbound Interstate 295/Anacostia River and the two left lanes exiting onto Exit 5B, Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue and Exit 5A, Anacostia Park. Photo taken 06/01/04. A final guide sign, placed on the bridge over the Anacostia River, again provides the correct lanes for Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue (Exit 5B), Anacostia Park (Exit 5A), and Interstate 295/Anacostia Freeway south. Not listed on this sign assembly is District of Columbia 295, which comes to its southern terminus upon reaching Interstate 295. Traffic to northbound District of Columbia 295 should have used Interstate 695 east to Pennsylvania Avenue east. Photo taken 06/01/04. Southbound Interstate 295 merges with District of Columbia 295 at this merge point. District of Columbia 295 ends, and Interstate 295 continues south along the Anacostia Freeway. Photo taken 06/01/04. Begin Interstate 295 overhead posted at the Southeast Freeway/Anacostia Freeway interchange on southbound District of Columbia 295/Anacostia Freeway as the state route ends. The Southeast Freeway carries Interstate 295 traffic from Interstate 695. Sign installation post just north of the one in the following photo. This marks the southern terminus of District of Columbia 295. Photo taken 10/15/01. Another begin Interstate 295 sign is posted just before the merge of ramps from the Southeast Freeway onto southbound. The tiny green sign is located beneath the yellow merge sign. This merge marks the southern terminus of District of Columbia 295. Photo taken 10/15/01. The next exits along southbound are Exits 3B, Howard Road/Downtown (0.50 mile) and Exit 3A, Suitland Parkway to U.S. Naval Reservation (0.75 mile). The only exit numbers posted in the District are located on Interstate 295, and they feature the distance to the District of Columbia-Maryland boundary. Photo taken 06/01/04. The first standalone Interstate 295 shield is located after traffic from the Southeast Freeway and District of Columbia 295 merge together. Photo taken 06/01/04. Use Exit 3B/Howard Road west to reach the Frederick Douglass Bridge and Exit 3A/Suitland Parkway to reach Maryland and ultimately Andrews Air Force Base. Photo taken 06/01/04. Now at Exit 3B, Howard Road, note that the pull-through sign for Interstate 295 is changed to "To Interstate 95, Richmond/Baltimore." The next exit is Exit 3A, Suitland Parkway. Photo taken 06/01/04. Southbound Interstate 295/Anacostia Freeway reaches Exit 3A, Suitland Parkway. Photo taken 06/01/04. The next exit along southbound is Exit 2, South Capitol Street/Malcolm X Avenue to Bolling Air Force Base. Photo taken 06/01/04. The final exit along southbound Interstate 295 within the District of Columbia is Exit 1, U.S. Naval Research Lab. After Exit 1, Interstate 295 will enter Maryland and approach the Capital Beltway, Interstate 95/Interstate 495. Photo taken 06/01/04. Drawbridge overhead for the Interstate 95/495/Capital Beltway Woodrow Wilson Bridge over the Potomac River. Photo taken 10/15/01. Southbound Interstate 295/Anacostia Freeway approaches Exit 1, Naval Research Lab, one-half mile. Photo taken 06/01/04. The last reassurance shield for south Interstate 295 in the District of Columbia is located midway between Exit 2, South Capitol Street/Malcolm X Avenue and Exit 1, Naval Research Lab. Photo taken 06/01/04. Southbound Interstate 295 at Exit 1, Naval Research Lab. The exit ramp is signed with this substandard sign, which mentions D.C. Village and Blue Plains Academy. Photo taken 06/01/04. Southbound Interstate 295 approaches its final exits, Exits 1B-A to Interstate 95/Interstate 495/Capital Beltway southwest to Virginia and northeast to Annapolis and Baltimore. Use Exit 1A to reach Maryland 210/Indian Head Highway south. Photo taken 06/01/04. Interstate 295 south ends at the interchange with Interstate 95/Interstate 495/Capital Beltway. This sign is located within the District of Columbia, but the interchange is located in Maryland. A construction project is configuring the Interstate 295/Capital Beltway interchange, resulting in some lane shifts at the time this photo was taken. Part of the reconfiguration is due to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge replacement project along southbound Interstate 95/westbound Interstate 495 over the Potomac River. Photo taken 06/01/04. This is an earlier view of the end advisory sign on southbound Interstate 295 before the construction. On Interstate 295, the District provides advance warning signs of the beginning and end points. Photo taken 10/15/01. After the ending advisory sign, Interstate 295 leaves the District of Columbia and enters the state of Maryland right around this location. Interstate 295 continues south for about a mile before splitting into Exit 1A, North Interstate 95/East Interstate 495/Capital Beltway (outer loop) with a ramp to Maryland 210/Indian Head Highway south and Exit 1B, South Interstate 95/West Interstate 95/Capital Beltway (inner loop) to Alexandria, Virginia. Photo taken 06/01/04. Scenes Pertaining to Interstate 295 Interstate 295 trailblazers posted at the end of the South Capital Street northbound off-ramp at Malcolm X Avenue (formerly Portland Street). Drivers bound for Interstate 295 northbound can utilize the northbound loop ramp from Malcolm Avenue east. Southward bound traffic to the Anacostia Freeway is directed to turn around via the South Capital Street on-ramp from Malcolm Avenue west to the Overlook Avenue on-ramp. Photo taken 09/25/04. Interstate 295 shields posted along Malcolm X Avenue eastbound for the northbound on-ramp to the Anacostia Freeway. Interstate 295 serves downtown Washington via the Capitol Avenue Bridge and 11th Street Bridge off-ramps. District of Columbia 295 continues the freeway northeast to the Baltimore-Washington Parkway and Baltimore. Photos taken 09/25/04. Links See also Maryland @ AARoads - Interstate 295 For more background and other related information for Washington area highways, please see the Roads to the Future page by Scott Kozel. Page Updated May 21, 2004.