I-95/495 Capital Beltway - Inner Loop

Removed by 2007, this mileage sign stood within the median of I-95/495 just ahead of U.S. 1 (Exit 25). 10/15/01

Former bridge mounted overheads, including a button copy panel for U.S. 1 north, at Exit 25 in College Park. 06/17/05

The former loop ramp (Exit 7A) for MD 5 south from I-95/495 south. 06/17/05

06/17/05

Heavy traffic congestion resulted from the road work associated with the Capital Beltway rebuild from Forest Heights westward to Alexandra, Virginia, including the redesign of the interchange with Interstate 295 and Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge replacement project. Exit 3 (MD 210) and 2 (I-295) represent the last Maryland off-ramps. Since this photo was taken, I-95/495 now partition into through and local roadways midway between MD 414 and MD 210. 06/17/05

A full-cloverleaf interchange once joined Interstates 95 & 495 with Maryland 210 (Indian Head Highway) at Forest Heights just south of Washington. This junction was reconfigured during the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Replacement Project and now all movements to Maryland 210 depart in unison. 06/17/05

A look at the former loop ramp from Interstates 95 & 495 inner onto Maryland 210 (Indian Head Highway) south. Rechristened Exit 3, traffic to Maryland 210 now departs a lone ramp from the local lanes of Interstates 95 & 495 south. The new ramp follows a portion of the foot print of the original ramp, but it provides a smoother transition to Maryland 210, with a traffic light added at its end for southbound motorists. 06/17/05

Reassurance shields posted for Interstates 95 & 495 within the construction zone between Exits 3 and 2. The Capital Beltway continues westward along side the National Park Service Oxon Hill Farm at Forest Heights toward the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge across the Potomac River. Construction between 2002-09 involved replacing the original Woodrow Wilson Bridge with two new six-lane structures. Associated with the work were upgrades to interchanges with Maryland 210, Interstate 295, U.S. 1, and Virginia 241. 06/17/05

Interstates 95 & 495 meet the southern terminus of Interstate 295 just east of the river at Exit 2. Travelers bound for Interstate 295 north must use the new local lanes of the Capital Beltway. The former directional cloverleaf interchange was upgraded to include high flyovers between Interstate 295 and the Maryland 210 connector at Oxon Hill and new ramps to the National Harbor development to the south. 06/17/05

Now renumbered as Exit 2B, the northbound beginning of Interstate 295 departs Interstates 95 & 495 inner for Bolling Air Force Base, the Anacostia Naval Annex, and downtown Washington. Connections with unsigned Interstate 695 lead drivers west to Interstate 395 and the U.S. Capitol. Exit 2A connects with National Harbor Boulevard south via a new loop ramp from the local lanes. 06/17/05

Leaving the original interchange with Interstate 295, Interstates 95 & 495 south draw to within one mile of the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge original draw span. Note the new mileage sign pictured above to the left. 06/17/05

The original Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge carried just six lanes of overall travel with no full shoulders. 06/17/05

The new Woodrow Wilson Bridge is 12 lanes wide but is striped for ten. 06/17/05

The new Woodrow Wilson Bridge lanes are configured in an Express/Local configuration, so that through traffic uses the inner most two lanes and local traffic uses the outer most three lanes. 06/17/05

The control tower for the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge 06/17/05

The left lane of the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge is reserved for high occupancy vehicles and/or buses, but it may also be used for light rail in the future. 06/17/05

Virginia welcome sign over the original Woodrow Wilson Bridge westbound. 06/17/05

Originally a collector/distributor roadway departed the Interstates 95 & 495 (Inner) westbound mainline at Exit 177 for Washington Street (Virginia 400) and U.S. 1 (Richmond Highway). The c/d roadway carried traffic from U.S. 1 westbound onto the Capital Beltway as well. This interchange was reconfigured during the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Replacement Project and now all movements depart from the mainline of the local lanes. 06/17/05

U.S. 1 follows Patrick Street north to a carriageway split with Henry Street through downtown Alexandria. Virginia 400 (Washington Street) parallels the US route three blocks to the east between respective ends of the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Exit 177A now departs independent of Exits 177C/B. 06/17/05

I-95/495 advanced west to a directional cloverleaf interchange (Exit 176) with Telegraph Road (Virginia Route 241). 06/17/05