Megaprojects - Under Construction: 395 Express Lanes Extension in the City of Alexandria and Arlington and Fairfax Counties

I-395 and Seminary Road Ramp

Note: A public information meeting on an operations analysis assessing the traffic and safety impacts and benefits of converting the 395 Express Lanes ramp to Seminary Road from a High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV)-only ramp to a High Occupancy Toll (HOT) ramp was held Dec. 9, 2019. 

Resources:

Presentation

Displays

I-395 at Seminary Road Interchange Modification Report | Appendices

395 Express Lanes

The 395 Express Lanes opened to traffic in November 2019. 395 Express Lanes Opening Fact Sheet

This project extended the 395 Express Lanes about eight miles north, from the Turkeycock Run interchange near Edsall Road to the vicinity of Eads Street in Arlington. To learn how the 395 Express Lanes work, visit www.expresslanes.com/395.

The two High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes that existed prior to construction were converted to express lanes and a third lane was added, providing three reversible express lanes.

The improvements are being mostly built within the existing footprint of the I-395 HOV lanes.

In November 2015, the commonwealth signed a framework agreement establishing that the 395 Express Lanes extension be done by Transurban under the current 95 Express Lanes Comprehensive Agreement with VDOT.

New bus and slug lanes at the Pentagon South Parking Lot opened in May 2019.

A fourth travel lane along the southbound I-395 general purpose lanes between Duke Street and Edsall Road opened in June 2020.

There will be a dedicated annual payment by Transurban for transit services and multimodal strategies identified in a study led by Virginia’s Department of Rail and Public Transportation.

Vehicles with three or more people can use the express lanes free, while vehicles with fewer than three people can choose to pay a variable toll and use the express lanes.

Project information is also available on the Transurban 395 Express Lanes webpage.

Benefits 

This project:

• Provides new travel options for single-occupant drivers.
• Provides quicker access to the Pentagon and Crystal City through interchange improvements at Eads Street.
• Funds additional transit options for commuters through $15 million a year from toll revenues.
• Eases congestion with a new fourth regular lane southbound Duke Street to Edsall Road.

Major Milestones 

Prepare Environmental Document: 2016 
Multimodal Study: 2016
Public Information Meetings: April 2016
Design Public Hearings: October and November 2016
Begin Construction: August 2017
New Bus and Slug Lanes Open at Pentagon South Parking Lot: May 2019
395 Express Lanes Open to Traffic: November 2019
I-395/Seminary Road HOV Ramp Public Information Meeting: December 2019
Duke Street Eastbound Ramp to I-395 Southbound Traffic Change: March 2020
Edsall Road Eastbound Ramp to I-395 Southbound Traffic Change: March 2020
I-395 Southbound to Duke Street Eastbound Traffic Change: May 2020
Edsall Road Westbound to I-395 Southbound Traffic Change: May 2020
I-395 Southbound Fourth Travel Lane between Duke Street and Edsall Road Open to Traffic - June 2020
Final Completion: December 2020