GW Parkway To Shift Traffic To Southbound Lanes For Construction Work

MCLEAN, VA — The National Park Service is preparing to begin a new phase in the rehabilitation of the northern section of the George Washington Memorial Parkway.

On Saturday, traffic will shift from the northbound lanes of the parkway to the southbound lanes between Interstate 495 and Route 123.

During the shift, motorists should expect a single northbound lane from until Monday at 2:45 p.m. The three-lane traffic pattern on the parkway, including a reversible lane, will become available for the evening rush hour on Monday, the NPS said.

Once the traffic shift is complete on Monday, the existing temporary lane — in the median of the parkway between I-495 and the Route 123 interchange — will always serve as a northbound lane, and drivers heading toward Maryland must use this lane.

The left southbound lane — closest to the median — will serve as the reversible lane. The right southbound lane will always serve as a southbound lane.

The NPS said winter weather could change the reversible lane schedule or close the parkway. The northern section of the parkway will close for storms forecasting 2 or more inches of snow or any amount of freezing rain or ice.

The parkway will close four hours before the forecasted start of the storm. The parkway will remain open for storms forecasting fewer than 2 inches of snow and no freezing rain or ice.

For this weekend's storm, no warnings, watches or advisories have been issued for Fairfax County or Arlington County.

The NPS expects the three-lane traffic pattern to be in effect through late 2025.

In partnership with the NPS, the Federal Highway Administration awarded a $161 million contract to rehabilitate the northern section of the parkway. The project will aim to improve safety and water drainage while retaining and reviving the historic beauty and significance of the parkway, the NPS said.

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