Virginia Department of Transportation—I-66 Inside the Beltway Eastbound Widening Project

On eastbound I-66, inside the Capital Beltway, a bottleneck had historically existed where four lanes of traffic merged into two lanes in a short distance, regularly snarling traffic during morning rush hour, and on evenings and weekends. Virginia DOT’s plan to fix this involved opening an additional travel lane along a four-mile section of eastbound I-66, constructing a new direct access ramp to a rail station, and creating a new bridge to a heavily-traveled multiuse trail offering greater flexibility and options to drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users. Drivers now have a safer, more predictable commute with reduced delays by eliminating the bottleneck on eastbound I-66 and adding the new direct access ramp to the West Falls Church Metro Station. By grade-separating the W&OD Trail crossing with Langston Boulevard, it improved safety for trail users by reducing the conflict points with vehicles. In addition, the new pedestrian and bicyclist roundabout in Bon Air Park eliminates conflict points and improves sight distances, creating a better and safer commuting and recreational experience.