Headaches on the horizon

I-95 widening
Delays are likely on I-95 south just past Lorton between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Monday through Thursday while crews replace two overhead sign structures. The Virginia Department of Transportation plans to close the HOV lanes at 9 p.m. and two regular southbound lanes at 10:30 p.m. each night. A single southbound lane will remain open.

All three lanes of I-95 south will be intermittently closed for up to half an hour just after midnight and again between 1 and 3 a.m. All lanes will reopen by 5 a.m. The left shoulder of I-95 north will also close but no northbound travel lanes will close.

This work is part of VDOT's I-95 widening project. I think this comment from my online chat Monday relates to it.

95 South on Sunday
Dr. G - yesterday I was headed south on 95, around 11 a.m. -- only to hit a giant wall of traffic from Springfield all the way to Occoquan, where it magically disappeared. Any idea why crazy back-ups like this happen? I never saw tons of cars getting off a single exit, nor did I ever see an accident -- it just was jammed.

That's probably just the summertime volume that could be eased somewhat by the completion of this project. The fourth southbound lane between Route 1 and the Fairfax County Parkway is scheduled to open this fall. The entire project, across the Occoquan to Route 123, should be done in fall 2011.

For more news about road and rail projects in the D.C. area, see our construction map and travel tips.