Interstate 295 nips the state of Maryland for all of 0.80 miles officially between the District of Columbia and the Capital Beltway at Oxon Hill. Lengthy ramps carry traffic from the Exit 2 interchange of the Capital Beltway to Maryland 210 (Indian Head Highway) to the south of Interstate 95 & 495 Exit 3. At present construction is under to reconfigure the southern terminus of Interstate 295 with the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge across the Potomac River.
Interstate 295 North
The northbound beginning of Interstate 295 departs the Indian Head Highway at Oxon Hill. A four-lane freeway connects the Indian Head Highway with the Interstate 295 mainline at Exit 2 of the Capital Beltway (Interstates 95 & 495). Pictured here is the freeway departure from Maryland 210 northbound and the Interstate 95 & 495 northbound off-ramp. Traffic interests to the Inner loop of the Capital Beltway should remain on Maryland 210 north for a loop ramp north of junction Maryland 414 (Oxon Hill Road). Photo taken 09/25/04.
Views of the Interstate 295 & Capital Beltway interchange reconstruction from the northbound ramp from Maryland 210. The present directional cloverleaf interchange is being reconfigured to allow for a widened Interstate 95 & 495 in association with the construction of two new spans for the Woodrow Wilson Bridge nearby. In addition new ramps are to be added to and from Interstate 295 to the National Harbor development south of the Capital Beltway. Photos taken 09/25/04.
Interstate 295 South
Interstate 295 only exists within Maryland for a short distance, a bit less than a mile. There are no signs to indicate the exact location of the boundary between the District of Columbia and Maryland, but this sign is the first Maryland-standard sign in place as Interstate 295 southbound approaches the Capital Beltway (Interstates 95-495). Photo taken 06/01/04.
With a full interchange at the beltway, the right lane feeds onto Interstate 95 south/Interstate 495 west over the Woodrow Wilson Bridge into Virginia. The left lanes exit onto northbound Interstate 95-495, with through traffic continuing south on Maryland 210/Indian Head Highway. Photo taken 06/01/04.
Southbound Interstate 295 at Exit 1A, Junction Interstate 95 south and Interstate 495/Capital Beltway east to Virginia. Note the construction surrounding this interchange; most of this construction is related to an interchange redesign associated with the under construction expansion of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. Photo taken 06/01/04.
As the two remaining lanes transition from southbound Interstate 295 onto northbound Interstate 95-495, the right lane is marked for southbound Maryland 210. Photo taken 06/01/04.
Here Interstate 95 and Interstate 495 exit off the freeway, while the remaining two lanes continue to Maryland 210. Maryland 210 heads south roughly parallel to the east shore of the Potomac River en route to Indian Head, with connections to other destinations in southeast Maryland. Photo taken 06/01/04.
Southbound Interstate 295 ends here, at the gore point for Exit 1A, the Capital Beltway (Interstates 95-495). The other two lanes exit south to Maryland 210. Photo taken 06/01/04.
Former Configuration of Interstate 295 South at Interstate 95-495
This series of photos shows the former interchange and transition from southbound Interstate 295 to the connecting freeway for Maryland 210 and Interstate 95-495. As noted previously, this interchange marks the southern terminus of Interstate 295, but it has since changed as a result of interchange reconfiguration. Photo taken 10/15/01.
Southbound Interstate 295 at the Capital Beltway interchange (old configuration). Signage on southbound in the District of Columbia indicates that Interstate 295 ends at this interchange. However, a connecting freeway proceeds to the south and east to merge with Maryland 210 at Indian Head. Photo taken 10/15/01.
Approaching the Interstate 95/495/Capital Beltway interchange on southbound. Signage at this interchange used to display Interstate 295 on the Indian Head panel that now displays Maryland 210. Photo taken 10/15/01.
