“The 395 and 95 Express Lanes will reverse early on a number of days leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday,” Express Lanes announced. “On Thanksgiving, the Lanes will run southbound all day long.”
Drivers with three or more people in the car and an E-ZPass Flex set to HOV ON can travel the Express Lanes for free. The early reversals begin Thursday, November 20, and continue through Friday, November 28. Overnight reversals will remain unchanged.
Opitz Boulevard Ramp Ribbon Cutting
On Thursday, November 14, 2024, from 11 a.m. to noon, local leaders will officially open the Opitz Boulevard ramp on the 95 Express Lanes. This $70 million project, funded by Transurban and executed in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Shirley Contracting Company, provides a dedicated northbound access point for morning commuters, connecting directly to a busy area that includes Sentara Medical Center, Potomac Mills, and the new Neabsco-Potomac Commuter Garage. This new entry to the Express Lanes is the first stand-alone ramp integrated into the 95/395 Express Lanes network, and it is expected to relieve congestion for drivers heading northbound during peak hours.
Please be advised the 95/395 Express Lanes will begin overnight reversal the night of October 30 / the morning of October 31, 2024, an hour early at 12 midnight instead of 1 a.m.
The change enables work on the Opitz Boulevard Project.
Commuters and residents in Woodbridge should prepare for a planned lane closure that will impact traffic on the Opitz Boulevard westbound overpass at Interstate 95. The closure, scheduled from 6 a.m. on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, until 5 p.m. on Friday, October 4, 2024, is necessary to construct a new ramp linking the I-95 E-ZPass Express Lanes to Opitz Boulevard.
This infrastructure project aims to enhance traffic flow and accessibility to key destinations in the area, including Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center and nearby commercial centers. However, as the construction enters a critical phase, disruptions are anticipated. The specific lane closure will allow workers to safely implement parts of the new ramp directly above the Opitz Boulevard overpass.
“The fall 2024 opening date for the 95 Express Lanes Opitz Boulevard ramp was communicated to stakeholders in an update sent earlier this summer and reflects the contractor’s current schedule,” said Jacqueline Woodbridge, a spokeswoman for Transurban. She noted that the delay resulted from a shift in the contractor’s schedule, which can be affected by various factors, including weather conditions.
Potomac Local News has received emails from frustrated drivers who live near the work zone.
Howdy, Potomac Local readers! The Lane Ranger here with an important update for your late-night commutes.
Initially estimated at $53 million, the project now stands at around $55 million, with construction progress reaching nearly 70%. Todd Barton, overseeing the project, explains the challenges faced during construction, notably installing five soil retaining walls to accommodate the structure.
“The site is very challenging,” Barton remarks. “In order to get the structure itself in, we had to install five soil retaining walls.”
Lane closures related to the Opitz Boulevard girder erection project were extended until 6 a.m. At the start of rush hour, significant traffic delays were expected. Drivers were encouraged to use alternate routes if possible.
All lanes were reopened about 7 a.m.
To conduct disaster recovery testing, the Interstate 95/395 E-ZPass Lanes will undergo a double-reversal overnight from March 22 to March 23, 2024. Transurban will conduct two successive reversals of the Express Lanes from midnight to 4:15 a.m.
March 23, 2024
