To accommodate increased traffic and smooth traffic flow, the Virginia Department of Transportation will extend the hours of operation for the I-66 shoulder lanes located between I-495 and Route 50 in Fairfax County. The new hours – an additional hour in the morning and afternoon – take effect Monday, August 25, 2008.
Currently the eastbound shoulder is open week days to all traffic from 5:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and westbound from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. The new hours will be:
Eastbound: 5:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Westbound: 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
This section of I-66 carries more traffic than any other section of I-66, with up to 196,000 vehicles on an average week day. Traffic pattern studies have shown that eastbound congestion regularly extends beyond 10 a.m. and westbound congestion frequently begins by 2 p.m.
VDOT conducted a comprehensive safety study of the corridor which showed no significant difference in crashes on I-66 when the shoulder is open. Larger signs have been installed to alert motorists to the nine emergency pull-off areas throughout the corridor.
VDOT also plans to open the shoulder lane during traffic incidents or when one or more lanes are closed for planned or emergency road work. This will be done in coordination with Virginia State Police and emergency responders.
HOV-2 hours will remain the same: 5:30 – 9:30 a.m. eastbound; and 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. westbound.
Several stakeholder groups were consulted as part of the decision process including Virginia State Police, fire and rescue, transit operators and Fairfax County. Support for the change has been strong.
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Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.

Page last modified: Aug. 20, 2008