U.S. 1

U.S. 1 angles seven miles through Washington, DC, sharing alignments with I-395 across the 14th Street Bridge and U.S. 50 along Constitution Avenue NW and 6th Street NW. The route spurs north from I-395 along an expressway by the Thomas Jefferson Memorial onto 14th Street across the National Mall. Turns onto Constitution Avenue and Rhode Island Avenue from 6th Street NW are not marked.

U.S. 1 North
Jefferson Drive east at U.S. 1 (14th Street SW) at The National Mall. Jefferson Drive leads east to the Smithsonian Institution Building and 3rd Street SW on the Mall. 08/01/05
Directly east from the Washington Monument is the U.S. Capitol. 08/01/05
The Washington Monument rises prominently from The National Mall midway between 15th Street and 17th Street, west of U.S. 1 (14th Street SW). 08/01/05
Replaced by 2007 and removed by 2014, a guide sign posted along U.S. 1 (14th Street SW) north at Madison Drive NW used black and white Interstate shield shapes in place of US markers. This was the lone sign posted for the upcoming turn of U.S. 1 north onto U.S. 50 (Constitution Avenue NW) east. The overlap is now unsigned. 08/01/05
U.S. 1 North U.S. 50 East
U.S. 1/50 (Constitution Avenue NW) east next intersect 12th Street NW and the 12th Street Expressway north. The Expressway flows north from I-395 north to a tunnel below the National Mall. 06/01/04
9th Street NW south becomes the 9th Street Expressway south of U.S. 1/50 (Constitution Avenue NW). The southbound expressway passes through a tunnel below the National Mall to emerge at ramps for I-395 (Southwest Freeway).
This small guide sign was removed by 2009, leaving no indication of the connection with I-395 for Constitution Avenue. 06/01/04
U.S. 1/50 (Constitution Avenue NW) ahead of 6th Street NW. Despite the signage here, which was removed by 2007, U.S. 1/50 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 via Constitution Avenue east. 06/01/04
U.S. 1 and U.S. 50 leave Constitution Avenue NW for 6th Street NW north to New York Avenue NW. This lone remaining sign for U.S. 50 was removed after 2011, leaving no indication that the US highway pair turn here. 07/05/10
U.S. 1/50 pass through a more traditional urbanized area on 6th Street northbound by some mid rise buildings. 07/05/10
6th Street NW doubles as an Alternate route for Interstate 395 north to New York Avenue. This shield assembly appears at Indiana Avenue NW. 06/01/04
Removed by 2022, substandard signs at 6th Street NW and Massachusetts Avenue NW previously referenced New York Avenue, where U.S. 50 turns east toward Baltimore Washington Parkway. 12/16/16
Removed by 2011, a remnant trailblazer sign for I-95 was posted along U.S. 1/50 (6th Street NW) north at K Street NW. 06/01/04
U.S. 50 turns east from U.S. 1 (6th Street NW) onto New York Avenue NW. Neither route is marked in advance or at this intersection. U.S. 50 travels to Cheverly, Maryland while U.S. 1 continues north to Rhode Island Avenue NW. 12/16/16
U.S. 1 North
Former U.S. 1 reassurance marker posted along 6th Street NW at M Street NW. This assembly was removed by 2007. 01/20/00
U.S. 1 South
U.S. 1 south splits with U.S. 50 (Constitution Avenue NW) west for 14th Street NW. 14th Street carries the route southward across The National Mall. This scene looking south from Constitution Avenue changed in 2014 with construction underway for the adjacent Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture. 08/01/05
Madison Drive NW intersects U.S. 1 (14th Street NW) between 12th and 15th Streets on The National Mall. 08/01/05
Interstate 495 trailblazer directing travelers southward on U.S. 1 (14th Street SW). U.S. 1 merges with Interstate 395 across the Potomac River, with the freeway carrying drivers south to the Springfield Interchange and Interstates 95 and 495. 08/01/05
Jefferson Drive SW flows east from 15th Street on The National Mall to 3rd Street SW. 08/01/05
Southbound U.S. 1 (14th Street SW) at C Street SW east next to the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. 08/01/05
Traffic partitions beyond the Ohio Drive SW underpass for the continuation of U.S. 1 south from 14th Street SW onto I-395 (George Mason Memorial Bridge) and the tolled I-395 Express Lanes across the Rochambeau Bridge. 01/04/19



Photo Credits:

  • 01/20/00 by Jeff Royston.
  • 06/01/04 by AARoads.
  • 08/01/05 by AARoads.
  • 07/05/10 by AARoads.
  • 12/16/16 by AARoads.
  • 01/04/19 by AARoads.

Connect with:
Interstate 395
U.S. 50

Page Updated 06-11-2014.

Go to Top