Beltway Ramp Closing Permanently

Some major changes are coming to the Beltway at the exit for I-66.

The exit from I-495 North to I-66 West is scheduled to close permanently to regular traffic on Friday, Sept. 30. As part of the HOT lanes project, the entire interchange will be rebuilt.

Once construction is complete, the former exit will be transformed into a HOT lanes ramp. The project includes 10 new bridges and four new HOT lanes.

In the meantime, traffic heading north on the Beltway will be shifted to new outer lanes from Lee Highway to I-66.

The HOT lanes construction project has three phases. It was started in 2008 and is expected to be completed some time in 2012.