Construction efforts to rehabilitate the George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP) are underway between I-495 and Spout Run Parkway. Construction activities will impact drivers and park visitors for the duration of the rehabilitation. View construction updates under Current Construction. The project is anticipated to be completed in late 2025.
Rehabilitation Progress Along the Parkway Crews continue to make progress on rehabilitation work daily. As of Fall 2024:
Plans for Winter Weather Inclement weather could shift the reversible lane schedule or close the parkway. Please be aware of the following and plan accordingly. The northern section of the parkway:
Expect delays in reopening the northern section of the parkway while crews clear snow and treat other sections of the parkway and park areas. Closure and re-opening information will be shared via email with GWMP Rehabilitation project news subscribers. Current Construction (Updated November 2024)I-495 to Route 123
Lane Configuration:
The three-lane configuration extends from I-495 to the Route 123 Interchange. The reversible lane schedule is as follows: Weekday morning rush hour (5:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.)
I-495 North Exit Ramp Closure The northbound GWMP exit ramp to I-495 north toward Maryland will be closed for curb demolition and reconstruction and asphalt paving from 7 a.m. Thursday, November 14 - 7 p.m. Monday, November 25. The ramp closure schedule and work are weather permitting. Any changes in the closure schedule will be reflected on this page. Detour Information: Motorists travelling northbound toward Maryland must exit at Route 123 and follow detour signs to reach I-495 north towards Maryland. Northbound Parkway Closure from Route 123 to I-495 to Accommodate Construction for I-495 Ramp to Virginia From November 18th to 20th, VDOT 495 NEXT Project construction will affect the ramps from the George Washington Memorial Parkway to I-495 heading toward Virginia. To accommodate this work, the North Parkway between Route 123 and I-495 will be closed at night between 10:00 PM and 5:00 AM on November 19th, 20th, and 21st. Motorists should continue using the existing detour route by exiting at Route 123 and following signs to reach I-495 as shown on the detour map. Route 123 Interchange Ramp Closures and Detours
The ramp from northbound Route 123 to southbound GWMP is closed through early December, weather permitting, for excavation, curb work, roadway demolition, and asphalt paving. During the closure, motorists traveling on Route 123 will need to follow detour signs to northbound GWMP and around Turkey Run loop to access southbound GWMP.
Route 123 to Spout Run Parkway Construction Outlook One northbound lane will be closed through mid-December between the Route 123 interchange and Windy Run Bridge. Following the completion of roadwork activities between Route 123 and Spout Run Parkway, crews will reopen both northbound lanes. As part of the next phase of the North Parkway Rehabilitation Project, crews will shift traffic to the northbound lanes and close the right southbound lane in mid-December for construction. Long-term lane closures along the southbound lanes shall continue into 2025. There will be no reversible lane in this section of the parkway. The NPS will share more details before each traffic shift. All work is weather permitting and subject to change. Lane Configuration: June – Mid-December 2024
On select weekends, both northbound lanes will be closed to allow crews to perform drainage, utility, and roadwork. All closures are weather permitting and subject to change. The NPS will provide more details via email ahead of each closure and detour and updated schedules will be reflected below. November Northbound Closure Schedule:
Detour Information: All northbound GWMP traffic must exit at Spout Run Parkway and follow detour signs to Route 123 as shown on the detour map. One southbound lane on GWMP will stay open. Route 123 to Windy Run Bridge The left northbound lane is closed through mid-December for rehabilitation work including:
Crews continue lane striping in the parking area at North Donaldson Overlook. Fort Marcy and the North Donaldson Overlook remain inaccessible between 9 a.m. - 5:30 a.m. through Fall 2024.
Windy Run Bridge to Spout Run Parkway
The left northbound lane is closed for rehabilitation activities including:
Bridge ConstructionCrews continue with bridge work:
Temporary barriers remain in place at Pimmit Run, Glebe Road, Gulf Branch, Donaldson Run, Dead Run, Windy Run, and Turkey Run bridges with narrower lane widths as work continues. No additional traffic delays are anticipated at this time. Construction Zone Safety Please slow down and be cautious while driving through work zones on the parkway.
Potomac Heritage National Trail Partially Closed through Late Fall 2024 A portion of the Potomac Heritage National Trail is closed under the Glebe Road Bridge for safety reasons. Crews installed containment platforms for blasting and painting activities under the bridge limiting space between the bridge and pedestrian trail. The partial closure of the trail is in place through the late Fall of 2024 as a safe detour is unavailable. Signage has been posted at trail entrance and exit points. Click here for more information on the trail closure. Construction Signage on the North ParkwayFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs) This project is the reconstruction of approximately 7.6 miles of the northern section of the GWMP between Spout Run and the I-495/Capital Beltway in Fairfax and Arlington counties, Virginia. This project will improve the driving experience, safety, and water drainage while retaining and enhancing the historic beauty and culture of the parkway.
This rehabilitation includes:
This project is the first rehabilitation in this section of parkway since it was completed in 1962. Once completed, this historic parkway will continue to provide a safe, scenic, and smooth experience for those who are using it to connect to our nation’s history or as a way to get to and from our nation's capital. The National Park Service (NPS), in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division (FHWA - EFLHD), continue the process of rehabilitating the northern section of the George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP).
The northern section of the GWMP, between Spout Run to I-495/Capital Beltway, is the busiest section of the parkway and serves about 26 million drivers annually. It is a four-lane divided scenic parkway that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and serves as a major commuter route between northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., carrying roughly 70,000 vehicles per day. It also provides access to several recreational and historic sites along the roadway. The physical roadway is reaching the end of its lifespan in the northern part of the parkway. NPS wants to rehabilitate the historic parkway to provide a safe and scenic experience while extending its lifespan. This project will repair and rehabilitate deteriorating aspects of the roadway as well as implement safety improvements while preserving the cultural and historical characteristics of the parkway.
Construction activities began in August 2022. The project is anticipated to be completed in late 2025. In September 2018, the NPS achieved a major milestone project by completing an environmental review completed for the rehabilitation. The NPS completed an Environmental Assessment and analyzed public comments before deciding how best to rehabilitate the north section of the parkway.
The National Park Service's preferred alternative for the is intersection is to consolidate Route 123 on-ramps to southbound GWMP at a new intersection east of Pine Tree Road (modified diamond interchange). Conceptual map is depicted below. North Parkway News |
Last updated: November 20, 2024