Interstate 495 / Capital Beltway - Outer Loop

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Interstate 495 South
I-495 south enters Fairfax County over the south banks of the Potomac River. The trumpet interchange with George Washington Memorial Parkway lies nearby, followed by a diamond interchange with SR 193 (Georgetown Pike). Washington Parkway ventures southeast to Arlington County, Rosslyn and Reagan National Airport. Georgetown Pike takes an easterly route to Langley and SR 123 (Chain Bridge Road). 08/06/13
The I-495 Express Lanes begin two miles south of the Maryland state line. The HOT (High Occupancy Toll lanes) line the middle of the Capital Beltway from McLean to Springfield. 08/06/13
Motorists using the I-495 Express Lanes require an E-ZPass transponder. Commercial trucks are prohibited from the two lane roadway. 08/06/13
George Washington Parkway travelers depart Interstate 495 south after the Potomac River bridge. The National Park Service maintained facility generally follows the Potomac southward to Arlington, Alexandria, and Mt. Vernon. 08/06/13
The I-495 Express Lanes are free to HOV-3 eligible motorists equipped with an E-ZPass Flex transponder. All other drivers are charged tolls that vary on time of day, levels of traffic and distance traveled. 08/06/13
Live Oak Drive passes over I-495 between Exit 43 and 44. SR 193 meets I-495 at a diamond interchange near Scotts Run Nature Preserve north of McLean. The state route travels 11.79 miles between SR 7 at Dranesville and SR 123 at Langley. 08/06/13
Exit 44 departs the Capital Beltway as the c/d roadway from Exit 43 returns. SR 193 (Georgetown Pike) westbound leads to Fairview. SR 686 (Balls Hill Road) stems south from Georgetown Pike nearby to McLean. 08/06/13
The I-495 Express Lanes opened to traffic on November 17, 2012 with two lanes per direction and limited ingress and egress points. 08/06/13
Dynamic message signs display the toll rates for the I-495 Express Lanes. All ramps from the HOT lanes depart independent of the I-495 mainline. The first three of those ramps serve Tysons Corner over the next 2.25 miles. 08/06/13
Interchange sequence sign listing the Dulles Access & Toll Roads (Exit 45) and SR 123 (Exit 46). The Dulles Access Road (Hirst Brault Expressway) provides the movement from I-495 south to Interstate 66 east. 08/06/13
1.5 miles north of the directional interchange (Exits 45B/A) with SR 267 (Hirst Brault Expressway) and the Dulles Access Road. 08/06/13
Exit 45A departs the mainline after the split with the I-495 Express Lanes for SR 267 (Dulles Airport & Toll Road) west. Dulles Access Road constitutes a direct and uninterrupted freeway between I-66 and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). SR 267 utilizes the parallel Toll Road alongside the Access Road to Loudon County. 08/06/13
Interstate 495 south splits with the I-495 Express Lanes beyond the Old Dominion Drive overpass. The Capital Beltway expands to 12 overall lanes with the addition of four HOT lanes. 08/06/13
The first set of transponder readers for the I-495 Express Lanes southbound. 08/06/13
Exit 45A leaves the I-495 Express Lanes and I-495 mainline simultaneously for SR 267 (Dulles Airport & Toll Road) west. SR 267 west leads to Wolf Trap Farm Park, Reston and Herndon.
A left exit ramp follows on the HOT lanes for Jones Branch Drive to Westpark at Tysons Corner. 08/06/13
Two lanes part ways with I-495 south for SR 267 west at Exit 45. SR 267 stretches 28.5 miles west from I-66 near Falls Church to U.S. 15 at Leesburg. The extension from Dulles Airport to Loudon County opened in 1995 as the Dulles Greenway toll road.
Left Exit 45B leaves for SR 267 east to I-66 east. All lanes of I-66 operate as HOT Lanes during the inbound commutes hours (6:30-9 AM weekdays). 08/06/13
Exit 45B carries drivers onto Dulles Access Road east to McLean (Exit 19) and I-66 east. I-66 spurs into Washington via the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Bridge, ending at K Street and the Whitehurst Freeway (U.S. 29). I-495 south meets the freeway directly in 2.5 miles. 08/06/13
SR 123 (Chain Bridge Road west / Dolley Madison Boulevard east) meets Interstate 495 at the next interchange (Exits 46A/B). 08/06/13
A cloverleaf interchange (Exits 46A/B) joins Interstate 495 with SR 123 (Chain Bridge Road) at the first of two Tysons Corner exits. 08/06/13
Exit 46A parts ways with Interstate 495 south for SR 123 (Chain Bridge Road) west while a two lane ramp ascends from the I-495 Express Lanes to Westpark Drive. SR 123 ventures west through Tysons Corner to Vienna and Fairfax. 08/06/13
SR 123 (Chain Bridge Road) travels north from Exit 46B into McLean while meeting the Dulles Access Road nearby. The state route follows Dolley Madison Boulevard east to Langley and SR 193 (Old Georgetown Pike). 08/06/13
Next in line for southbound travelers is the three quarter cloverleaf interchange (Exits 47A/B) with SR 7 (Leesburg Pike). SR 7 leads west 72 miles from Alexandria to Winchester overall. 08/06/13
A c/d roadway separates for SR 7 (Leesburg Pike) from Interstate 495 south. Leesburg Pike consists of a busy arterial route southeast from Tysons Corner into the independent city of Falls Church. 08/06/13
Leaving Tysons Corner, I-495 winds southwest to cross paths with Interstate 66 at a directional cloverleaf interchange (Exit 49) in 0.75 miles. 08/06/13
Ramps to Interstate 66 west exit from both the Capital Beltway mainline and the I-495 Express Lanes. I-66 passes between Vienna and Fairfax en route to Fair Oaks, Centreville and Manassas. 08/06/13
Exit 49 provides access to I-66 west only as SR 267 east already served the eastbound movement to D.C. Interstate 66 travels 76 miles overall between Washington and I-81 near Front Royal. 08/06/13
Southbound I-495 at the dual off-ramps for I-66 west from the mainline and HOT lanes. I-66 is a busy commuter route west through Fairfax County. The Metro Orange Line runs along the median of the freeway west to the Vienna/Fairfax Station. 08/06/13
Interstate 495 travels almost due south from I-66, one mile to a cloverleaf interchange with U.S. 50 (Arlington Boulevard). 12/30/12
There is no direct access to U.S. 29 (Lee Highway) from Interstate 495 south. Motorists are directed to use Exit 50A for the arterial as well. 12/30/12
Reassurance marker posted for Interstate 495 ahead of the U.S. 29 (Lee Highway) overpass. Ramps connect the south side of Lee Highway with the I-495 Express Lanes. 12/30/12
A collector distributor roadway (Exit 50) departs Interstate 495 south for U.S. 50 (Arlington Boulevard) at Merrifield. 12/30/12
Travelers along the I-495 Express Lanes see two final departure points before the HOT lanes merge with the mainline ahead of I-95/395 (Springfield Interchange). 12/30/12
U.S. 50 and SR 650 (Gallows Road) converge at an interchange to the west at Merrifield. SR 650 connects Arlington Boulevard with Lee Highway to the north. U.S. 50 continues west to merge with U.S. 29 at Fairfax. 12/30/12
Gallows Road continues south from a SPUI with U.S. 50 (Arlington Boulevard) to meet Interstate 495 at a parclo interchange (Exit 51) in one half mile. U.S. 50 follows Arlington Boulevard east to Fairview Park, Seven Corners outside Falls Church, and Arlington. 12/30/12
A fifth southbound lane opens between U.S. 50 and Exit 51 to SR 650 (Gallows Road). Two exits remain along the Capital Beltway ahead of I-95/395 in 5.5 miles. 12/30/12
Progressing southeast from Exit 51, SR 650 continues along Gallows Road to Annandale Road and SR 236 (Little River Turnpike). 12/30/12
Interstate 495 next meets SR 123 (Little River Turnpike) at a cloverleaf interchange (Exits 52A/B). 12/30/12
Mill Creek Park lines the west side of Interstate 495 beyond the sound walls and this reassurance marker. 12/30/12
SR 236 is a 15.54 mile route between U.S. 29/50 in Fairfax and SR 400 in Alexandria. 12/30/12
SR 236 heads 1.3 miles east to commercial center of Annandale and 4.8 miles to Lincolnia. 12/30/12
Westward from Exit 52A, SR 236 meets SR 237 in 2.4 miles at the independent city of Fairfax. 12/30/12
The second Annandale exit joins Interstate 495 south (outer loop) with SR 620 (Braddock Road) in one mile. 12/30/12
Interstate 495 lines the east side of Wakefield Park to Exit 54 with SR 620 (Braddock Road). 12/30/12
A flyover ramp elevates from the I-495 Express Lanes to cross over the I-495 southbound mainline to SR 620 (Braddock Road). SR 620 leads west to Ravensworth and east to Annandale. 12/30/12
Two lanes branch away from the I-495 southbound mainline for Braddock Road. Braddock Road leads east to Lincolnia and west to Fairfax Station and SR 659 (Union Mill Road) near Centreville. 12/30/12
Exit 54 splits into separate ramps for SR 620 west to George Mason University and east to North Springfield. 12/30/12
Interstate 495 turns southeasterly on the two mile approach to Exits 57A/B (I-95 and I-395 north). 12/30/12
A left exit connects Interstate 495 south with the Reversible Express toll lanes for I-395 north and I-95 south at the first of three exits within the Springfield Interchange. 12/30/12
Curving east from Braddock Road and Annandale, I-495 advances toward the Springfield Interchange and a left exit for the I-95/395 Express Lanes. 12/16/16
The last southbound shield posted for I-495 before the merge with Interstate 95 north to Alexandria. 12/16/16
The I-495 Express Lanes conclude one mile ahead of Exit 57A for Interstate 95 south to Richmond. 12/16/16
Interstate 495 continues with six southbound lanes to the multi level interchange with I-95 south and I-395 north. The Express Lanes for I-95/395 flows north during the morning peak hours and south during the evening peak hours. 12/16/16
Interstate 395 north continues from western Alexandria to Arlington and the Pentagon before entering D.C. Exit 57A for I-95 south includes ramps for the adjacent interchange with SR 644 (Old Keene Mill Road west / Franconia Road east). 12/16/16
Exit 57B for I-395 north to Washington departs in one mile from I-495 southbound. I-95 and I-395 comprise a major commuting corridor south to Fredericksburg. 12/16/16
The left exit for the reversible I-95/395 Express Lanes separates from I-495 southbound. The HOT toll lanes line the middle of I-395 north to Washington and I-95 south to Fredericksburg. 12/16/16
Exit 57A expands into a three lane off-ramp for Interstate 95 south to Lorton, Dale City and Woodbridge. 12/16/16
Interstate 495 continues east with three overall lanes through the Springfield Interchange. Previously the mainline was designated as Exit 57C. 12/16/16
Exit 57A leads southward to Interstate 95 through the multi level interchange (Exits 169B/A) with SR 644 between Springfield and Franconia. 12/30/12
Exit 57B follows on the I-495 mainline as a two lane flyover for Interstate 395 north. I-395 travels 9.91 miles to Washington and 13.39 miles overall. 12/16/16
The left exit for the I-95 Express Lanes departs simultaneously with Exit 57B for I-395 north. I-95/495 combine from Springfield east to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge into Prince Georges County, Maryland. 12/16/16
Exit 169B leaves the I-95 southbound ramp to join the right side of a six lane distributor roadway extending from I-395 south to SR 644. 12/30/12
Ramps to the Reversible Express Lanes are open either north to Washington or south to Prince William County depending upon time of day. Outside of the morning and evening commuting hours, the lanes vary with the direction they flow. 12/16/16
A lane drop occurs at Exit 169A from the distributor roadway (Exit 57A) for I-95 south for SR 644 (Franconia Road) east by the Springfield Town Center. 12/30/12
Two lanes from I-495 east combine with traffic from I-395 south as the I-95 southbound mainline lowers from a flyover. Exits 169B/A join the multi-lane ramp for SR 644 from I-395 south to the right. 12/30/12
Some of the flyovers within the Springfield Interchange from the ramp joining I-495 south with I-395 north. Work to upgrade a low speed directional cloverleaf interchange between the Capital Beltway and Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway took five years and $676 million to build. 12/16/16


 


Photo Credits:

12/30/12, 08/06/13, 12/16/16 by AARoads

Connect with:
Interstate 66
Interstate 95
Interstate 395 - Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway
U.S. 29
State Route 123

Page Updated 06-27-2020.

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