North Parkway Construction, News, and Impacts

This infographic displays the areas that are under construction and the anticipated schedule.

NPS

Construction efforts to rehabilitate the George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP) are underway between I-495 and Spout Run Parkway. Construction activities will impact drivers and park visitors for the duration of the rehabilitation. View construction updates under Current Construction. The roadwork is anticipated to be completed in late 2025.

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Rehabilitation Progress Along the Parkway

Crews continue to make progress on rehabilitation work daily. As of Summer 2025:

• 65% of the roadway has been replaced, improving drivability and safety. 
• 85% of the guardwall has been repaired or replaced, upgrading motorist safety.
• 90% of the drainage work is complete, reducing erosion and sediment run off.
• 75% of the bridge repairs are complete, rehabilitating aging infrastructure.
• 100% of the outfalls have been repaired, completing work to improve drainage structures that discharge water to nearby streams.

 

During the morning rush hour, two lanes will carry traffic southbound toward Washington, DC. During the evening rush hour, two lanes will carry traffic northbound toward Maryland.

NPS

Current Construction (Updated August 2025)

I-495 to Route 123

The National Park Service (NPS) continues working in this segment. Crews continue temporary lane demolition and reconstructing the curb, drainage, and masonry guard wall and planting trees through 2025. Crews continue planting trees along the parkway median and northbound lanes. Drainage installation, roadway demolition, paving activities continue, resulting in temporary traffic closures. View detailed lane closure schedules below.

Lane Configuration
The three-lane configuration extends from I-495 to Route 123. The lane schedule is as follows:

Weekday morning rush hour (5:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.)

• Two lanes southbound (toward Washington, DC).
• One lane northbound (toward Maryland/Virginia).

Weekday evening rush hour (2:45 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.)

• Two lanes northbound (toward Maryland/Virginia).
• One lane southbound (toward Washington, DC).

Weekdays (9:30 a.m. – 2:45 p.m. and 7:15 p.m. - 5:30 a.m.) weekends and major holidays

• One lane southbound (toward Washington, DC).
• One lane northbound (toward Maryland/Virginia).

 

Northbound GWMP traffic traveling toward Maryland will need to exit at Route 123 and follow signs to reach I-495 north.

NPS

August Northbound Lane Weekend Closures for Roadwork

This month, the NPS will continue temporary lane closures between I-495 and Route 123 to remove barriers along the northbound lanes. The closure schedule and details are listed below:

Northbound Lane Closure Schedule: Route 123 to I-495

• From 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 16 

• From 7 a.m. on Saturday, August 23 until 6 p.m. on Sunday, August 24

Detour Information: Motorists traveling northbound on the George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP) must exit at Route 123 and follow detour signs to reach I-495 north towards Maryland as shown on the detour map.

The exit to and from Turkey Run Park will be closed from northbound GWMP during these weekend closures. During this time, visitors should follow the detour to northbound I-495 and proceed to southbound GWMP to access Turkey Run Park.

 

Southbound Detour: Exit at Route 123 and follow signs to Spout Run Parkway to re-enter GWMP.

NPS

Route 123 to Spout Run Parkway Construction Outlook

One southbound lane remains closed for construction through 2025. There will be no reversible lane in this section of the parkway. View below for construction details in each segment.

Fort Marcy to Spout Run Parkway
One southbound lane remains closed for construction through 2025. There will be no reversible lane in this section of the parkway. View below for construction details in each segment.

Lane Configuration (South of Route 123 – Spout Run Parkway): Through Late 2025

• PM Rush Hour (2:45 – 7:15 p.m.): One lane will carry traffic southbound toward Washington D.C. and two lanes will carry traffic northbound toward Maryland/Virginia.
• All other times: There will be one lane open to traffic in each direction.

August Lane Closure Schedule: Route 123 to Spout Run Parkway

In this segment of the parkway, there will be both southbound and northbound lane closures on select weekends for barrier relocation and asphalt paving:

Route 123 to Spout Run Southbound Lane Closure Schedule Continued 

• From 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Saturday, August 16

• From 7 a.m. on Saturday, August 23 until 6 p.m. on Sunday, August 24  

Detour Information: All southbound GWMP traffic must use the southbound GWMP ramp to Route 123 and follow detour signs to Spout Run Parkway to re-enter southbound GWMP toward Washington D.C. One northbound lane on GWMP will stay open. 

 

Route 123 to Spout Run Northbound Lane Closure Schedule

• From 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday, August 17

Detour information: Motorists traveling northbound must exit at Spout Run Parkway and follow detour signs to Glebe Road to Route 123 and re-enter the parkway.

 

Route 123 Interchange Ramp Closures

Crews will close the ramp from the southbound GWMP to westbound Route 123 and from westbound Route 123 to southbound GWMP starting August 11 through mid-September, weather permitting. Crews will demolish these two existing ramps and construct two new ramps to improve safety and access between Route 123 and southbound GWMP.

Starting August 11, motorists can use the following detours:

• Southbound GWMP to westbound Route 123: Motorists should continue southbound on GWMP to eastbound Route 123 and make a u-turn to access westbound Route 123.

 

Westbound Route 123 to southbound GWMP: Motorists should continue westbound on Route 123, make a u-turn at Merchant Lane, and proceed to southbound GWMP.

 

Once open, this new traffic configuration will realign entrances to southbound GWMP. Starting in mid-September, the new GWMP and Route 123 intersection will be located east of Pine Tree Road:

Route 123 traffic:

• All traffic on Route 123 heading to southbound GWMP will use the new ramp.

• Motorists on eastbound Route 123 heading to southbound GWMP will continue to bear right onto the existing short ramp and connect to the new southbound GWMP ramp.

• Motorists traveling westbound on Route 123 will yield to eastbound Route 123 traffic before turning left onto the new southbound GWMP ramp.

Southbound GWMP traffic:

• A new ramp will allow right turns from southbound GWMP onto westbound Route 123.

• A stop sign will be placed on Route 123 for motorists exiting southbound GWMP onto Route 123 until the planned traffic signal is operational.

• Southbound GWMP traffic will only be able to turn right onto Route 123 at this stop sign.

The northbound GWMP exit ramps to eastbound and westbound Route 123 will remain as is. Additional improvements at this intersection include addressing drainage, pavement markings, and curbs.  

 

During the evening rush hour, two lanes will carry traffic northbound toward Maryland / Virginia. There will be one lane of traffic in each direction at all other times.

NPS

Route 123 to Windy Run Bridge

Crews have closed the left southbound lane for construction including:

• Curb installation
• Guardwall and median reconstruction
• Asphalt paving

 

During the evening rush hour, two lanes will carry traffic northbound toward Maryland / Virginia. There will be one lane of traffic in each direction at all other times.

NPS

Windy Run Bridge to Spout Run Parkway

Construction in the left southbound lane continues including:

• Shoulder restoration
• Barrier removal

 

During bridge work, a three-lane configuration will be in place with a barrier to separate traffic from the work zone.

NPS

Bridge Construction

Crews continue with bridge work:

• Glebe Road, Windy Run, Pimmit Run, Gulf Branch, Route 123 interchange, and Spout Run Arch Bridges: Repairs on and below the bridge surface.

Temporary barriers remain in place at Pimmit Run, Glebe Road, Gulf Branch, and Windy Run bridges with narrower lane widths as work continues. No additional traffic delays are anticipated at this time.

All work is weather permitting. In the event of inclement weather, work will be rescheduled. Any changes in the closure schedule above will be reflected on this page.

 

Construction Zone Safety

Please slow down and be cautious while driving through work zones on the parkway. To increase safety, small physical barriers divide the narrow travel lanes. Commercial vehicles are restricted from the parkway at all times. Signage will direct drivers to the appropriate lanes. During non-rush hour periods, weekends, and holidays, the center reversible lane will be closed, and motorists can expect two travel lanes: one traveling northbound and one traveling southbound.

• Drivers should observe traffic signs for updated information.
• A 40 MPH speed limit remains in effect from the I-495 interchange to Spout Run Parkway to help keep construction crew and motorists safe. This speed limit will be in place for the remainder of the project and is enforced as such.
• To avoid traffic delays on the northern section of the parkway, drivers should consider alternate routes and plan for additional travel time.
• Remember vehicles over 10,000 lbs. are always prohibited from using the parkway.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP) North Parkway Rehabilitation project?

This project is the reconstruction of approximately 7.6 miles of the northern section of the GWMP between Spout Run and the I-495/Capital Beltway in Fairfax and Arlington counties, Virginia. This project will improve the driving experience, safety, and water drainage while retaining and enhancing the historic beauty and culture of the parkway.

What can the public expect from this project?

This rehabilitation includes:  

• replacing the asphalt pavement 

• redesigning portions of the Route 123 interchange 

• repairing stormwater management systems  

• replacing and updating drainage inlets and culverts  

• stabilizing erosion 

• constructing turnarounds for emergency vehicles  

• rehabilitating two historic overlooks 

• lengthening entrance and exit lanes at some interchanges to improve traffic safety 

• reconstructing stone walls and improving roadside barriers 

• and re-opening historic views along the parkway

This project is the first rehabilitation in this section of parkway since it was completed in 1962. Once completed, this historic parkway will continue to provide a safe, scenic, and smooth experience for those who are using it to connect to our nation’s history or as a way to get to and from our nation's capital.

Who is responsible for the project?

The National Park Service (NPS), in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division (FHWA - EFLHD), continue the process of rehabilitating the northern section of the George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP).

Why is the project needed?

The northern section of the GWMP, between Spout Run to I-495/Capital Beltway, is the busiest section of the parkway and serves about 26 million drivers annually. It is a four-lane divided scenic parkway that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and serves as a major commuter route between northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., carrying roughly 70,000 vehicles per day. It also provides access to several recreational and historic sites along the roadway. The physical roadway is reaching the end of its lifespan in the northern part of the parkway. NPS wants to rehabilitate the historic parkway to provide a safe and scenic experience while extending its lifespan. This project will repair and rehabilitate deteriorating aspects of the roadway as well as implement safety improvements while preserving the cultural and historical characteristics of the parkway.

What is the duration of the project?

Construction activities began in August 2022. The project is anticipated to be completed in late 2025.

What planning has been done for this project?

In September 2018, the NPS achieved a major milestone project by completing an environmental review completed for the rehabilitation. The NPS completed an Environmental Assessment and analyzed public comments before deciding how best to rehabilitate the north section of the parkway.

What are the proposed changes to the 123 intersection?

The National Park Service's preferred alternative for the is intersection is to consolidate Route 123 on-ramps to southbound GWMP at a new intersection east of Pine Tree Road (modified diamond interchange).  Conceptual map is depicted below.

This would:
• Realign entrance to the Route 123 eastbound on-ramp to southbound GWMP mainline. The roadway would be realigned to be opposite the consolidated off-ramp from southbound GWMP.
• Maintain tight northbound GWMP exit ramp to both eastbound and westbound Route 123.
• Remove existing ramps in the northwest quadrant of the interchange (Earth Tech 2005).
• Install stormwater management (SWM) best management practices consistent with VDEQ requirements.

For more information see the Environmental Assessment document.