Contacts:           
Michelle Holland, WWB Project, 703/329-0300 or 703/930-7286 (cell)          
John Undeland, WWB Project, 703/329-0300 or 571/237-2690           
          
          
          
WORK EXTENDED DUE TO WEATHER DELAYS           
          
Lane Reduction on Beltway Outer Loop at Telegraph Road Interchange to Occur This Week Will Require Traffic to Merge from Four to Three Lanes Earlier           
          
          
The work to reduce the Capital Beltway’s Outer Loop (I-95 North) from four to three through-lanes immediately west of the Telegraph Road Interchange has been extended due to rainy conditions, which occurred today (Tuesday, 1/29). The re-striping of the lanes, which is necessary to complete the lane reduction, cannot be completed until the road surface is completely dry. Crews plan to complete the work prior to Thursday afternoon’s rush hour, 1/31, pending there are no additional weather delays.           
          
Until all work has been completed, the ramp from northbound Telegraph Road to the Outer Loop will remain closed. Reopening the ramp before all paving and striping work is complete would result in an unsafe merge condition. Motorists will continue to follow the signed detour past the closed ramp, to the entrance ramp to the Inner Loop, to the southbound Telegraph Road Exit, to the first exit ramp to the Outer Loop.           
          
Commuters are advised to plan ahead as this ramp closure could increase traffic volume on the already-congested ramp from southbound Telegraph Road to the Outer Loop.           
          
The lane reduction is necessary for workers to continue building new Outer Loop Beltway lanes to match the wider Wilson Bridge. Ultimately, the new Beltway lanes will separate local and long-distance travelers, resulting in a much safer and smoother traffic flow. Motorists will continue to have three available lanes in this area until fall 2008, at which time all of the new Outer Loop Beltway lanes, east of Telegraph Road, are expected to open to traffic, providing four lanes and one merge lane.           
          
          
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