Interstate 395
Interstate 395 (Southwest Freeway) east of the 7th Street SW overpass. I-395 turns north along the Center Leg Freeway at the adjacent exchange with I-695 (Southeast Freeway). - 08/01/2005
Interstate 395 replaced the original route of I-95 north from Springfield, Virginia to Washington, DC. Designated in 1977 when plans for I-95 north of the Center Leg Freeway were cancelled, I-395 follows all of the Southwest Freeway in Washington. I-95 shifted east to overtake I-495 along the Capital Beltway in 1977. I-395 turns north along the completed portion of the Center Leg Freeway. However changes to be implemented will renumber the Center Leg Freeway as Interstate 195 and redirect I-395 over what is I-695 along the Southeast Freeway and 11th Street Bridge to I-295/D.C. 295 (Anacostia freeway). These changes were approved by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) on November 20, 2020.
Interstate 395 serves the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, while passing underneath the U.S. Capitol area and National Mall in central Washington. The highway ends unceremoniously at U.S. 50 (New York Avenue) eastbound.
Interstate 395 D.C. Guides
Interstate 395 spans the Potomac River amid three bridges. The 14th Street Bridge consists of the 1950-built Rochambeau Bridge with four lanes northbound and the southbound four-lane George Mason Memorial Bridge constructed in 1962. A third span, opened in 1972, parallels the south side of the George Mason Bridge with four HOV lanes.1 Lanes on these bridges come together at the Washington Channel Bridge leading east onto the Southwest Freeway.
The Southwest Freeway fully opened to traffic on August 26, 1963.1 It included stubs for the Southeast Freeway (I-695) and the Center Leg Freeway. Construction commenced on the northerly component of future I-395 in 1966, but delays pushed back the opening north to E Street NW until November 5, 1973. This portion includes 3,500 foot long cut and cover tunnels.
Extension of the Center Leg Freeway north to New York Avenue NW (U.S. 50) includes a 1,250 foot long tunnel from Massachusetts Avenue to K Street NW. Work started on this portion in 1975, but like the southern segment, delays ensued in 1978. Funding to complete the Center Leg Freeway was finally obtained by 1984. Costing $84 million, the last section opened on February 6, 1987.2
scenes
Posted at the corner of SW 9th Street south at Constitution Avenue (U.S. 1/50), this guide sign directed travelers south onto the 9th Street Expressway for the ramps to I-395 and the Southeast Freeway.
01/20/00
Buckeye Drive SW at the access road leading to Interstate 395 north at Exit 2 in East Potomac Park.
10/12/14
Interstate 395 trailblazer posted along 7th Street SW north at the Southwest Freeway on-ramp. I-395 meets I-695 (Southeast Freeway) at the northward turn onto the Center Leg Freeway nearby.
08/01/05
Capital Landing Place east at 7th Street SW, opposite the Interstate 395 (Southwest Freeway) northbound entrance ramp.
08/01/05
7th Street SW stems north from Maine Avenue SW to meet Interstate 395 north after G Street SW.
08/01/05
Heaving traffic trudges westward along Interstate 395 (Southwest Freeway) as ramps from 9th Street SW and 7th Street SW join.
08/01/05
7th Street SW north crosses Interstate 395 and intersects Frontage Road SW adjacent to the Southwest Freeway.
08/01/05
Looking west from the 7th Street SW overpass at Interstate 395 and its southbound ramps to Maine Avenue and the 12th Street Expressway north. Ramps also tie into the freeway from 9th Street south at L'Enfant Plaza in these scenes.
08/01/05
Traffic from Maine Avenue eastbound joins Interstate 395 (Southwest Freeway) east at the end of the Francis Case Memorial Bridge. The Maine Avenue ramps were to connect with the unconstructed South Leg Freeway (I-695), a limited access highway linking I-395 here with I-66 at the Potomac River Freeway.
08/01/05
7th Street SW south at the northbound entrance ramp to Interstate 395 (Southwest Freeway).
08/01/05
Interstate 395 gains a southbound side Frontage Road between 6th Street SW and L'Enfant Plaza SW along the Southwest Freeway.
08/01/05
I-395 (Southwest Freeway) at the ramps to Maine Avenue and the 12th Street Expressway north. The Maine Avenue ramp leads to Independence Avenue at West Potomac Park. This would have been the continuation of Interstate 695 west had the South Leg Freeway been built.
08/01/05
Westbound along the Interstate 395 Frontage Road ahead of the L'Enfant Plaza Promenade at the 9th Street SW over crossing.
08/01/05
Traffic from 9th Street SW joins the mix ahead of the Interstate 395 ramp split between Maine Avenue west and 12th Street north. A slip ramp provides access from the 9th Street SW entrance ramp to the departing Maine Avenue off-ramp.
08/01/05
The Promenade travels underneath L'Enfant Plaza SW from the frontage road northward. The Plaza above leads northward from Banneker Circle SW to Independence Avenue SW. Frontage Road SW otherwise turns north and joins the 12th Street Expressway toward Downtown.
08/01/05
References:
- Southwest Freeway (I-395), DCRoads.net.
- Center Leg Freeway (I-395), DCRoads.net.
Photo Credits:
- Jeff Royston: 01/20/00
- Alex Nitzman: 08/01/05, 10/12/14
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Page Updated Thursday February 09, 2023.