Demolition of Georgetown Pike Bridge Over I-495 to Start Wednesday

MCLEAN, VA — Demolition of the north side of the Georgetown Pike Bridge over the Beltway is scheduled to start Wednesday night and last about three weeks, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

The nighttime work is necessary for construction of the center pier of the replacement bridge, which will be made longer to span the Beltway, which will be widened.

The work is part of the 495 NEXT project to extend the 495 Express Lanes from the Dulles Corridor interchange to the George Washington Memorial Parkway interchange.

Eastbound and westbound traffic on Georgetown Pike will be shifted to the bridge’s south side, allowing demolition of the north side to begin.

Work generally will occur Sunday nights through Friday nights between 9:30 p.m. and 5 a.m., with Saturday nights between 9:30 p.m. and 7 a.m. as a backup. All work is dependent on weather conditions and other factors, VDOT said. Excavators fitted with hammers, saws and hydraulic jaws will be used to demolish the bridge.

Demolition of the bridge’s south side is schedule to occur in spring 2024.

Overnight lane closures on I-495 and periodic stoppages of I-495 lanes for up to 30-minute intervals will be necessary, VDOT said. Virginia State Police will be on site to assist with implementation of the closures. Lane closures may also occur on Georgetown Pike approaching and over the bridge.

During certain lane closures of the left side of southbound I-495, motorists coming from the George Washington Memorial Parkway heading for southbound I-495 will follow a minor detour. Instead of accessing the Beltway from the left lane of the exit ramp, drivers will be directed to stay right and take the ramp up to Georgetown Pike, go straight through the traffic light, and take the ramp back down where traffic will then be able to merge onto the Beltway.

When completed, the reconfigured Georgetown Pike interchange will provide a channelized, free-flow right turn from westbound Georgetown Pike to northbound I-495, VDOT said.

The on-ramp to northbound I-495 will provide increased merge distance, and a wider Georgetown Pike Bridge will include a six-foot-wide sidewalk and a trail connection to Scotts Run Nature Preserve.