Gallows Rd. bridge to open Saturday

The new Gallows Road bridge that carries route 650 over the Capital Beltway is scheduled to open Saturday morning, the Virginia Department of Transportation said Thursday.

VDOT cautioned that shifting traffic, a process that will begin Friday and last until dawn Sunday, may cause delays. Demolition of the old bridge will begin at night once the new bridge is open.

For the next 12-18 months, motorists will have one southbound lane on the bridge rather than two. Two lanes northbound towards INOVA Fairfax Hospital will be maintained. Drivers should expect 10-15 minute delays during the afternoon rush, VDOT said.

-- Ashley Halsey III