U.S. 50 enters the district on a freeway that connects Washington with Annapolis and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in Maryland. The route links Interstate 395 with the aforementioned freeway along New York Avenue. This street facilitates six lanes of travel with a 35 mile-per-hour speed limit. The highway cosigns with U.S. 1 along Sixth and Ninth Street into central Washington. The highway crosses the Potomac River along the Interstate 66 Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Bridge into Virginia.
U.S. 50/Constitution Avenue - Eastbound
After leaving behind Interstate 66/Theodore Roosevelt Bridge, this reassurance shield greets travelers as eastbound U.S. 50 transitions onto Constitution Avenue. This U.S. 50 is of a unique model found only in the District of Columbia. It features the words U.S.-D.C. at the top of the shield, and the direction (in this case East) is written into the top of the shield. Photo taken 06/01/04.
Most of the U.S. 50 shields found in the District of Columbia are like the unique version shown in the previous photo. However, a few of the standard shields may be found, including this one found on eastbound U.S. 50/Constitution Avenue at 23rd Street. Between 23rd Street and 17th Street, U.S. 50 passes right by some of the most fabled architecture and grounds in the country. To the south of U.S. 50 is the National Mall, a large park that extends from the Potomac River and Lincoln Memorial east past the Reflecting Pool toward the Washington Monument, the tallest structure in downtown Washington. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, and D.C. War Memorial are all situated toward the west end of the Mall. A variety of museums occupy the National Mall east of U.S. 1/14th Street, until the Mall reaches the U.S. Capitol, home to the Senate and House of Representatives. Photo taken 06/01/04.
You may have missed it, but between 23rd Street and 14th Street, U.S. 50 passes by the White House, the Ellipse, and the Zero Milestone. Find a place to park and explore this area! As for eastbound U.S. 50/Constitution Avenue, it approaches U.S. 1 South/14th Street to the southeast of the White House. The U.S. 1 shield had a previous life as a U.S. 29 shield; the faded numbers are visible in this photo. The two left lanes allow for left turns onto 14th Street northbound; this is one of the few permissible left turns along this section of Constitution Avenue. Note that the middle two lanes continue straight ahead, while the right lane provides for a right turn onto southbound U.S. 1/14th Street. U.S. 1 north merges onto eastbound Constitution Avenue; U.S. 1 and U.S. 50 remain merged along Constitution Avenue until 6th Street; they turn north along 6th Street until they split at New York Avenue. Photo taken 06/01/04.
The intersection for 14th Street (Junction U.S. 1 South) is just ahead. The building on the left is the Customs Service. To the south of Constitution Avenue and east of 14th Street is the continuation of National Mall, which U.S. 50 parallels as it follows Constitution Avenue. Several museums, including the Smithsonian, National Air and Space Museum, National Gallery of Art, and National Museum of Natural History are located around the Mall. Photo taken 06/01/04.
U.S. 1 Northbound/U.S. 50 Eastbound via Constitution Avenue
Between 14th and 12 Streets, eastbound U.S. 50/northbound U.S. 1/Constitution Avenue pass to the north of the National Museum of American History, which is located within the National Mall complex. Photo taken 06/01/04.
Use 9th Street south from eastbound U.S. 50/northbound U.S. 1/Constitution Avenue to pass under the National Mall via a tunnel and emerge at an interchange with Interstate 395 south to Virginia and to U.S. 1 south. Photo taken 06/01/04.
Eastbound U.S. 50/Northbound U.S. 1/Constitution Avenue approaches 6th Street. Despite the signage here, both U.S. 1 and U.S. 50 turn north onto 6th Street. This intersection is located adjacent to the National Museum of Art-West Building. The U.S. Capitol is still ahead, so to reach the U.S. Capitol and its Reflecting Pool, continue east on Constitution Avenue. Photo taken 06/01/04.
U.S. 1 Northbound/U.S. 50 Eastbound via 6th Street
Now on 6th Street northbound, eastbound U.S. 50/northbound U.S. 1 pass through a more traditional urbanized area, with some moderate high-rises. Photo taken 06/01/04.
Follow U.S. 50 east to reach Interstate 395 south. Photo taken 06/01/04.
An older sign indicates that traffic to U.S. 50 east to New York Avenue to Interstate 95 to Baltimore should continue straight ahead on 6th Street northbound. Photo taken 06/01/04.
Northbound U.S. 1 and Eastbound U.S. 50 follow 6th Street northbound between Constitution Avenue and New York Avenue. Near the intersection with K Street east of Mount Vernon Square is this trailblazer shield to Interstate 95, including the "District of Columbia" name. To reach Interstate 95 north, follow U.S. 50/New York Avenue east to the Capital Beltway interchange (or use the Baltimore-Washington Parkway/Route 295 north). Photos taken 06/01/04.
Northbound U.S. 1 continues north along 6th Street, while U.S. 50 turns east along New York Avenue. Naturally, there are no U.S. 1 or U.S. 50 shields in advance of or at this intersection. Just be looking out for New York Avenue to continue east on U.S. 50! Photo taken 06/01/04.
U.S. 50/New York Avenue - Eastbound
Eastbound U.S. 50/New York Avenue approaches the northern terminus of Interstate 395. Interstate 395 heads south through the Third Street Tunnel to emerge at the split between the Southeast Freeway (Interstate 695) to Interstate 295 south and Southwest Freeway (Interstate 395) south to Arlington and Interstate 95 south. Continue east on U.S. 50 to reach the Baltimore-Washington Parkway north, U.S. 50 freeway east to Annapolis, and Interstate 95/495 Capital Beltway. Photo taken 06/01/04.
An Interstate 395 south trailblazer is followed by a diagrammatical overhead sign that shows the upcoming intersection between eastbound U.S. 50/New York Avenue and southbound Interstate 395. The traffic signal visible in the distance governs the intersection between the two routes. Photo taken 06/01/04.
These tiny trailblazers for Interstate 295 and Interstate 495 confirm that traffic headed toward the Capital Beltway/Interstate 495 should use U.S. 50 east, while traffic headed toward Interstate 295/Anacostia Freeway south should use Interstate 395 south. Photo taken 06/01/04.
U.S. 50/New York Avenue - Westbound
This sign for Interstate 395 is the first junction sign along westbound U.S. 50. It is no larger than a "no parking" sign and advises traffic to use the left lane to make a left turn onto Interstate 395 south. The intersection between Interstate 395 and U.S. 50 is governed by a signal, not an interchange. Photo taken 06/02/03.
Since Interstate 395 passes under a couple of tunnels prior to reaching Interstate 695 and Virginia, certain restrictions are listed on this sign in terms of height and hazardous cargo. Photo taken 06/02/03.
To reach downtown Washington, use westbound U.S. 50. For through traffic to Virginia, use Interstate 395 south. Photo taken 06/02/03.
Westbound U.S. 50 at Junction Interstate 395 south. Note the graphical overhead sign, which illustrates the lane assignments to enter the freeway. Photo taken 06/02/03.
For more background and other related information for Washington area highways, please see the
Roads to the Future page by Scott Kozel.
