Interstate 395 South

South

Interstate 395 (Center Leg Freeway) angles southeast from the intersection of U.S. 50 (New York Avenue NW) at 4th Street NW south. 4th Street NW parallels I-395 south as an Alternate route to the freeway. 08/04/13

Interstate 395 descends from New York Avenue NW (U.S. 50) toward the 3rd Street Tunnel. Speed limits are set at just 45 miles per hour and speed cameras are in use. 01/04/19

An apartment building and parking area occupy space above the 1,250 foot long 3rd Street Tunnel. 01/04/19

The southbound lanes of Interstate 395 through the 3rd Street Tunnel were the last to open along I-395 in D.C. when they did on February 6, 1987.1 01/04/19

Interstate 395 turns southward through the 3rd Street Tunnel between 3rd Street NW and 2nd Street NW ahead of an entrance ramp from Massachusetts Avenue NW east. 06/06/21

Prior to the extension of the Third Street Tunnel south of Massachuetts Avenue NW, an unsigned exit departed from I-395 south here for E Street NW. 01/04/19

Exit 8 follows in one half mile onto 2nd Street SW at Virginia Avenue SW for the U.S. Capitol area. I-395 expands to four lanes from the half diamond interchange with Massachusetts Avenue NW to Left Exit 7 for I-695 east. 01/04/19

A short cut and cover tunnel takes I-395 below a park plaza east of the U.S. Tax Court building between E and D Streets NW. 08/04/13

Interstate 395 south enters the Mall Tunnel at D Street NW. 06/06/21

The 3,400 foot long Mall Tunnel travels below the U.S. Capitol area, including the reflecting pool. The twin tubes were completed in 1973 at a cost of $100 million.2 06/06/21

Exit 8 departs from within the Mall Tunnel for Virginia Street SW west to 3rd Street SW north to the National Mall and U.S. Capitol. 01/04/19

An entrance ramp from D Street NW adds a fourth southbound lane for Interstate 395 through the Mall Tunnel. 08/04/13

Interstate 395 (Center Leg Freeway) parts ways with Exit 8 at the Mall Tunnel south end below C Street SW. 01/04/19

Just beyond Exit 8, traffic along the Center Leg Freeway splits with two lanes for I-395 (Southwest Freeway) south and two lanes for I-695 (Southeast Freeway) east. 01/04/19

Exit 7 to I-695 east partitions with an off-ramp to S Capitol Street to Nationals Park (home of the MLB Washington Nationals). 12/16/16

Passing under the Southeast Freeway, traffic for Exit 7 splits for S Capitol Street and I-695 east to the 11th Street Bridg, Anacostia Freeway (I-295) and the Washington Navy Yard. 12/16/16

The speed limit reduces to 40 miles per hour where Interstate 395 joins the Southwest Freeway by L'Enfant Plaza. Upcoming Exit 5 forms Frontage Road SW for 6th and 7th Streets SW to the National Mall. 12/27/22

Interstate 395 separates with the two lane ramp (Exit 4) to Maine Avenue SW beyond Exits 5 A/B for the National Mall and L'Enfant Promenade. 12/27/22

Three lanes continue westward beyond Exit 4 along Interstate 395 toward Arlington, Virginia. High speed ramps connect I-395 (Southwest Freeway) with Maine Avenue. These were built in anticipation of the unconstructed South Leg Freeway of I-695 leading northwest to the Potomac River Freeway (I-66). 12/27/22

Exit 4 partitions from I-395 south at the 9th Street Expressway ramps. Two lanes continue onto Maine Avenue SW north to Independence Avenue SW by the Washington Monument. 12/27/22

Just beyond the Exit 4 gore point is the off-ramp for the 12th Street Expressway north toward Downtown and the Capital One Arena (home of the NHL Washington Capitals and NBA Washington Wizards). 12/27/22

The 9th Street Expressway connects with both I-395 south across the Francis Case Memorial Bridge over Washington Channel and Maine Avenue SW. 12/27/22

Interstate 395 curves southwest across Washington Channel Bridge by lone confirming marker posted in D.C. 08/04/13

The entrance ramp from the 9th Street Expressway forms an auxiliary lane to the folded diamond interchange (Exit 2) at East Potomac Park. 10/12/14

U.S. 1 ties into Interstate 395 south from 14th Street SW where the Express Lanes commence south to Arlington, Virginia. 10/12/14

Exit 2 loops away from I-395 south to Ohio Drive SW at East Potomac Park. Ohio Drive SW connects I-395 with the Thomas Jefferson Memorial and a U.S. Park Police substation. A left exit follows for the tolled Express Lanes, which run alongside I-395 across the George Mason bridge built in 1972. 10/12/14

A parclo interchange (Exits 10C/B) with George Washington Memorial Parkway lies across the Potomac River in 0.75 miles. 08/04/13

South

U.S. 1 south combines with I-395 south across the George Mason Memorial Bridge. Exit 10C departs from the south end of the span onto George Washington Memorial Parkway north through Lady Bird Johnson Memorial Park on Columbia Island. 08/04/13

I-395/U.S. 1 south span the Potomac River with four southbound lanes. U.S. 1 leaves in one half mile via Left Exit 8 C for Richmond Highway south to Pentagon City, Crystal City and Alexandria. 10/12/14

Maintained by the National Park Service, George Washington Memorial Parkway follows the Potomac River northward to Langley and I-495 and south to Alexandria. Trucks are prohibited from using the route. 10/12/14

A striped collector distributor lane branches away from I-395/U.S. 1 south for Exit 10B, George Washington Memorial Parkway south to Reagan National Airport (DCA) and Mount Vernon and Exit 10A, Boundary Channel Drive to the Pentagon. 08/04/13

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Photo Credits:

• 08/04/13 by AARoads.
• 10/12/14 by AARoads.
• 12/16/16 by AARoads.
• 01/04/19 by AARoads.
• 06/06/21 by Peter Johnson.
• 12/27/22 by AARoads.

Connect with:
Interstate 695 - Southeast Freeway
U.S. 1

Page Updated 02-09-2023.