The completion of the Beltway express lanes extension project is imminent.
New Express Lanes on Beltway Set to Open by End of 2025
Good news for drivers in Fairfax County, Virginia! The extended Beltway Express Lanes are expected to open before the end of this year, providing a smoother commute for many.
The project, which has been under construction for over three years, involves the addition of two new express lanes in each direction of the Beltway. This extension, approximately three miles long, will stretch from the Dulles Toll Road to the George Washington Parkway[1][2][5].
The final major traffic shift in the construction project has been made, freeing up space on the inner section of the Beltway towards the middle for crews to build the new express lanes[1][3]. Work continues, with crews demolishing old structures, constructing ramps, installing drainage, tolling infrastructure, and paving[2].
While the new express lanes are expected to open by the end of 2025, drivers should anticipate ongoing construction, traffic pattern changes, and ramp closures until mid-2026 when full completion is expected[2][5].
One key feature of the new express lanes is that they will be free for buses and cars with three or more people who have an EZ Pass with an HOV setting. For drivers of vehicles with two or fewer people, a toll will apply. The toll tends to be highest when traffic is at its worst[6].
Other work related to the project, such as bridge improvements and construction of a shared path for bicyclists and pedestrians, will continue into 2026[7].
Meanwhile, the National Park Service expects to reopen lanes closed for a long-running project on the northern section of the George Washington Memorial Parkway later this year[8]. Traffic on the southbound lanes of the Beltway has been shifted to the outer section of the road between Georgetown Pike and an area between bridges for Old Dominion Drive and Lewinsville Road[9].
As the end of construction is in sight, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) encourages drivers to stay informed about traffic updates and construction schedules[4]. With the new express lanes set to open soon, commuters in Fairfax County can look forward to a more efficient driving experience.
[1] https://www.virginiadot.org/projects/northern-virginia/beltway-express-lanes-extension.asp [2] https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2022/05/27/beltway-express-lanes-construction-update/ [3] https://www.wusa9.com/traffic/traffic-alerts/traffic-shift-on-i-66-inside-the-beltway-as-crews-work-on-express-lanes/ [4] https://www.virginiadot.org/travel/alerts/ [5] https://www.wtop.com/traffic/2022/05/beltway-express-lanes-to-open-late-2025-VDOT-says/ [6] https://www.wusa9.com/traffic/traffic-alerts/toll-rates-for-beltway-express-lanes-extension-announced/ [7] https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2022/05/27/beltway-express-lanes-construction-update/ [8] https://www.nps.gov/gewa/learn/news/george-washington-memorial-parkway-to-reopen-lanes-closed-for-long-running-project.htm [9] https://www.wusa9.com/traffic/traffic-alerts/traffic-shift-on-i-66-inside-the-beltway-as-crews-work-on-express-lanes/
The new express lanes on the Beltway, set to open by the end of 2025, could potentially revolutionize the transportation sector in Fairfax County, Virginia, offering a more efficient driving experience. Economically, the project, involving financing for construction and operational costs in the transportation industry, is expected to foster growth and development within the region.
