Thursday, July 26, 2012
New transponder explained for the 495 HOT Lanes.
Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) officials announced Wednesday the launch of the EZ-Pass Flex transponder, a device that will allow high-occupancy vehicles to ride for free when the Interstate 495 Express Lanes open later this year. The beltway express lanes, which will run from the Dulles Toll Road (Route 267) exit to the I-95/395/495 interchange (the “mixing bowl”) will be free for all vehicles with three or more occupants. Drivers wishing to take advantage of the quicker lanes will have to purchase an EZ-Pass Flex before they can use the lanes. “Carpooling is an important priority in the commonwealth of Virginia,” said Charles Kilpatrick, VDOT’s chief deputy commissioner, encouraging all commuters who plan to use the lanes…
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
This week's traffic challenges in McLean and Tysons Corner
This week's traffic dramas in McLean and Tysons Corner are brought to you by the simultaneous construction of the HOT Lanes and the Metro construction. Pack the patience this week. I-495 south from Exit 44, Georgetown Pike (Route 193) to Oak St. overpass: Three lanes closed Monday – Saturday nights for overhead sign and paving work. Expect intermittent full road closures of up to 30 minutes after midnight. Lewinsville Road overpass north or south at I-495: Road closed Friday and Saturday nights for traffic shift. Dulles International Airport Access Hwy. east and west at Leesburg Pike (Route 7): Single lane closed Tuesday night for sign work. Expect intermittent full road closures of up to 30 minutes after midnight. Dulles Toll Road (…
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
New toll lanes to stretch from Springfield to Tysons Corner
- GOVERNMENT
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Tuesday, May 8, 2012
The construction period for the Express Lanes (formerly HOT Lanes) down the middle of the I-495 Beltway has remained on schedule, Dranesville Supervisor John Foust said in his newsletter last week. Lanes now under construction down the middle of the Beltway from Springfield to Tysons Corner are now 90 percent complete and the new travel lanes are set to open to traffic in December 2012, Foust reported. The 14-mile project, which costs $2 billion, includes the replacement of nearly a dozen bridges over the Beltway including the Lewinsville Road bridge in McLean. Motorists on the Express Lanes will need to have an E-Z Pass transponder mounted on their windshields. Fees for driving the Express Lanes will be deducted automatically by monitors …
Monday, April 23, 2012
Toll Express Lanes Project
If you hear loud noises in the night, they may be coming from this week's demolition of the old bridge from I-495 north to I-66 west. Demolition will take 4-5 weeks to complete of which 8-12 nights could be VERY loud, according to a notice from Virginia Megaprojects. McLean went through a similiar bridge demolition in January with the destruction of the old Lewinsville Road bridge over the Beltway. The demolition is part of the Virginia Megaprojects that is building the new toll express lanes from Springfield to Tysons Corner. Megaprojects sent this note to the neighbors: Bridge demolition will start on the old left exit from I-495 north to I-66 west on or about Monday, April 23. A portion of this left exit was dismantled in October 2011…
Friday, March 30, 2012
It's not getting any better out there
There's no relief in sight for beleaguered Northern Virginia drivers naviating a myriad of major construction projects that impede their daily commute to and from work. That was the main news from VDOT's update on its major projects Thursday. Steve Titunik, VDOT's communications director, said all the projects which range from building express toll lanes down the middle of the Capital Beltway, to express lanes on I-95 were on schedule. “Spring seems to have started early, which is great news for us,” he said. Here's the VDOT status report from VDOT's regional transportation program director John Lynch: 495 Express Lanes Construction The I-495 Express Lanes, formerly known as HOT Lanes, are about 90 percent complete and scheduled to open …
Monday, March 26, 2012
Traffic Drama Due to Metro, Express Toll Lane Construction
UPDATE: All previously scheduled overnight road and ramp closures on the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project have been cancelled for tonight, Monday, March 26. ORIGINAL STORY: Here's a list of this week's traffic challenges brought to you by the simultaneous construction of the new Mero Silver Line and the express toll (aka HOT) lanes through Tysons Corner and McLean. 495 south from Old Dominion Dr. overpass to Oak St. overpass - Three left lanes closed Wednesday - Saturday nights for lane shift, overhead sign and bridge work. Dulles Connector Rd. (Route 267) east at I-495 - Road closed Monday - Thursday nights for bridge work. Traffic will be directed to I-495 north to Exit 44, Georgetown Pike (Route 193) west, stay to the left, follow …
Friday, March 23, 2012
Bridge demolition, ramp opening delayed for at least a week
- GOVERNMENT
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Friday, March 23, 2012
UPDATE: The opening of a new ramp from I-66 west to I-495 south scheduled to open today has been delayed until March 30. The good news: the bridge demolition scheduled for I-495 and I-66 that was also to begin tonight has been delayed until April 2. All the work is part of the construction of new express toll lanes from Springfield to McLean. Megaprojects, the public-private partnership building the lanes gave no reason for the delays. ORIGINAL STORY: Those nighttime noises that awakened and jarred McLean neighbors in January return beginning tonight. The HOT lanes project is tearing down more ramps in the McLean area. Megaprojects, MegaProjects, the public-private partnership building the toll lanes sent this notice to the neighbors…
Monday, February 27, 2012
Important Lane Closures for Feb. 27 - March 3
Here's a list of this week's traffic challenges brought to you by the simultaneous construction of the new Silver Line and the express (aka HOT) lanes through Tysons Corner and McLean. I-495 north and south from Idylwood Rd. overpass to Exit 50, Arlington Blvd. (Route 50) - Three lanes closed Monday - Saturday nights for bridge work. Expect intermittent full road closures of up to 30 minutes after midnight. I-495 south from Exit 50, Arlington Blvd. (Route 50) to Exit 51, Gallows Rd. (Route 650) - Three left lanes closed Thursday and Friday nights for overhead sign work. Expect intermittent full road closures of up to 30 minutes after midnight. Leesburg Pike (Route 7) east to I-66 west - Ramp closed intermittently for up to 30 minutes after…
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Be Careful Out There
Here's a list of this week's traffic dramas in Tysons Corner and McLean brought to you by the twin construction of the Metro through Tysons Corner and the new toll express (formerly known as HOT) lanes down the middle of the Capital Beltway. I-495 north at Exit 49, I-66 - Three right lanes will close for barrier work and traffic shift. Expect intermittent full road closures of up to 30 minutes after midnight. Two Ramps at I-495/Route 123 Interchange to Close Overnights This Week Overhead bridge construction at the I-495/Route 123 interchange will force the closures of two ramps overnights next week: Ramp from Northbound I-495 to Southbound Route 123, Monday Feb. 20 - Friday, Feb. 24, 9:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. Drivers will be detoured by …
Monday, January 30, 2012
This Week's Traffic Traumas
Weekly compilation of traffic detours and headaches in McLean and Tysons Corner caused by the construction of the Silver Line and the HOT Lanes through Tysons Corner. Pack the patience. Overnight Lane and Ramp Closures on the I-495 Capital Beltway Continue I-495 north at Exit 46 Chain Bridge Rd. (Route 123) - Three left lanes closed Monday night for overhead sign installation. Expect intermittent full road closures of up to 30 minutes after midnight. I-495 north at Exit 47, Leesburg Pike (Route 7) - Road closed Friday and Saturday night for box girder installation. Traffic will be directed to Exit 47B, Leesburg Pike (Route 7) east, continue straight over median with direction of police across Leesburg Pike and onto exit ramp to I-495 …
Bart J. Simpson
4:50 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Just copying and pasting press releases, are we? Who is "we" and "our workforce" in the last couple of paragraphs? Is McLean Patch now manning construction equipment? Nice job. more ›