Crews to raise bridge beams over travel lanes
Seven-mile detour, possible 45 minute delays

The Virginia Department of Transportation will re-route I-95/395 northbound traffic heading towards Washington (I-395 North) and Tysons Corner (I-495 West) from 8 p.m. to 10 a.m. on Aug. 16-17 and 23-24, weather permitting. Motorists should expect the seven-mile detour to add as much as 45 minutes to their trip, particularly before midnight.

The closure and detour, part of the Springfield Interchange Improvement Project, will ensure the safety of motorists while crews hoist six steel bridge beams 100 feet into the air and set them in place on concrete piers, filling in the 600-foot gap on the bridge that ultimately will carry traffic from the Beltway inner loop to I-95 south. The gap is located directly over the I-95 and I-395 northbound travel lanes.

“This work would typically be done over a two week period with 20-minute shutdowns of all the lanes,” said Larry Cloyed, project manager for the Springfield Interchange Improvement Project. “But in this situation we have no other choice due to the location of the work. Our first obligation is to protect the safety of the traveling public. This is a delicate operation and we will not take any unnecessary risks for motorists or our workers.”

Motorists heading north on I-95 towards the Woodrow Wilson Bridge will not be detoured however, they will experience delays. Southbound I-95 motorists could experience delays due to rubbernecking.

Crews will partially fasten together two beams on the ground before using three cranes to lift the 100-ton, 300-foot section into the air where it will be further spliced and then carefully maneuvered into place on the concrete piers. The beams will then be bolted into place and stabilized with cross pieces.

Three beams will be erected on Aug. 16 and the remaining three on Aug. 23, weather permitting. The new bridge will open to traffic in fall 2004, once the new roadways leading onto and off the bridge are complete.

Shutdown and Detour:

· 6 p.m.: Left lane of four lanes on I-95 northbound closes beginning at Exit 169/Route 644 in Springfield.

· 7 p.m. Second and third lanes close.

· 8 p.m.: Fourth lane closes. All I-395 northbound travel lanes are shutdown and motorists heading to Tysons Corner or Washington D.C are detoured to I-95 north towards the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.

· Detour Route: Motorists will take I-95 north (outer loop) towards the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and exit at Van Dorn Street/Exit 173, turning left at the top of the ramp onto Van Dorn Street, right on Eisenhower Avenue and back onto the inner loop of the Beltway, where they can exit at I-395 north to Washington or continue on I-495 west towards Tysons. The detour route will be clearly signed. Virginia State Police, Fairfax County Police and City of Alexandria police will assist in directing and monitoring traffic.

· In addition to the I-95 lane closures, the I-95 HOV lanes will be closed from 2 p.m. Saturday until 10 a.m. Sunday morning, both weekends.

Overhead and roadside message signs along with highway advisory radio will alert motorists to the detour beginning at Lorton.

A detailed map and photos are available at www.Springfieldinterchange.com

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Photo Op: Media interested in covering the lifting/placing of the bridge beams should come to the Springfield Interchange Field Office, 6400 Commerce Street, Springfield at 8 p.m. Aug. 23. Steve Titunik will escort you to an excellent vantage point along I-95. Directions to field office: I-395 South to Route 644 East. Turn left at Commerce Street, right into parking lot.

Page last modified: Aug. 13, 2003