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This infographic displays the project rehabilitation area
NPS
The National Park Service (NPS) has reached substantial completion of the north parkway rehabilitation project on the George Washington Memorial Parkway. The project, which began construction in 2022, improves safety and resilience through rehabilitated pavement and drainage, strengthened roadside features and restored historic overlooks. Some finishing work will continue into the spring during off-peak travel hours. Motorists can expect travel impacts once crews begin rehabilitation efforts on the Route 123 Interchange bridge.
View construction updates under Current Construction.
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Replaced the roadway, improving drivability and safety.
Completed drainage installation and repairs, reducing erosion and sediment run off.
Repaired the outfalls have been repaired, completing work to improve drainage structures that discharge water to nearby streams.
The National Park Service thanks you for your patience over the last three years as we worked to rehabilitate 7.6 miles of the parkway, improving the driving experience and safety for motorists, while maintaining the culture of this historic landmark near our nation’s capital. See below for current construction details and impacts in each segment.
Current Construction (Updated March 2026)
I-495 to Route 123
Crews continue curb work at the I-495 Interchange. Periodic lane closures also continue for median restoration activities.
Route 123 to Spout Run Parkway
Repairs on the concrete median and guardrail are complete. Motorists can expect finishing work during off-peak travel hours for median restoration activities.
Bridge Construction
Crews have completed repairs on and below the bridge surface at Glebe Road, Pimmit Run, Dead Run, Turkey Run, Windy Run and Spout Run Northbound and Southbound Arch bridges, rehabilitating aging infrastructure.
Please slow down and be cautious while driving through work zones on the parkway. Commercial vehicles are restricted from the parkway at all times. Signage will direct drivers to the appropriate lanes.
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.
Resurfacing work will occur in two segments from Spout Run Parkway South and I-395 and between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Alexandria.
NPS
Additional Rehabilitation Work on the George Washington Memorial Parkway
The National Park Service has identified additional rehabilitation work on the George Washington Memorial Parkway. This work has begun, taking advantage of the current construction workforce to facilitate this additional work and reduce traffic impacts.
Route 123 Interchange Bridge Work and Traffic Impacts
Structural repairs on the Route 123 Interchange bridge are underway as part of efforts to rehabilitate aging infrastructure. The exit ramp to Route 123 eastbound and westbound has a reduced deceleration lane. The National Park Service anticipates that there will be a single travel lane closed and that lanes adjacent to the exit ramps will also be closed during rush hour. More details will be provided on those lane closures before they are in effect. Work on the bridge is anticipated to last through mid-May.
Additional Mill and Overlay Work
Just south of the project limits between Spout Run Parkway south to I-395 and between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to First Street in Alexandria, the George Washington Memorial Parkway will undergo resurfacing work. Crews will remove a layer of the northbound and southbound lanes and rehabilitate the asphalt to extend the life of the roadway in this section of the parkway.
This work is anticipated to start the week of March 23 once weather conditions are suitable for asphalt work and continue through mid-June. Crews anticipate back-to-back milling and paving during the day and overnight on weekdays and weekends, weather permitting.
Traffic pattern
Crews will begin work in the segment from Spout Run Parkway to I-395.
Weekday morning rush hour (5:30–9:30 a.m.): One northbound lane will be closed. Motorists can expect two lanes traveling southbound toward Washington, D.C., and one lane traveling northbound toward Maryland and Virginia.
Weekday evening rush hour (2:45 –7:15 p.m.): One southbound lane will be closed. Motorists can expect two lanes traveling northbound toward Maryland and Virginia, and one lane traveling southbound toward Washington, D.C.
Weekdays (9:30 a.m.–2:45 p.m.), overnight (7:15 p.m.–5:30 a.m.), and weekends: One lane will remain open in each direction.
Construction may result in ramp closures. The National Park service will share more information on traffic impacts and detours ahead of these closures.
Turkey Run Loop Drainage Repairs
The NPS will close the northbound and southbound George Washington Memorial Parkway exits to Turkey Run Loop in early April through early May, weather permitting. The closures will repair drainage structures along the loop.
Crews will begin by closing the northbound parkway exit to Turkey Run Loop and, once work is complete, proceed to work on the southbound parkway exit. Lane closures will be on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Motorists traveling on Turkey Run Loop Road will continue to the parkway in both directions.
Detour information:
Northbound parkway exit to Turkey Run Loop closure: To reach Turkey Run Loop Road, motorists on the northbound parkway should continue to I-495 south, turn at Georgetown Pike, and proceed to the southbound parkway. Motorists traveling on the southbound parkway will still be able to access Turkey Run Loop and proceed to the northbound parkway.
Southbound parkway exit to Turkey Run Loop closure: To reach Turkey Run Loop Road, motorists on the southbound parkway should continue to Route 123 and proceed to the northbound parkway to Turkey Run Loop Road. Motorists traveling from the northbound parkway will still be able to access Turkey Run Loop and proceed to the southbound parkway.
The NPS understands the parkway's importance for motorists and is working efficiently to complete its rehabilitation to minimize prolonged congestion for this additional effort while ensuring safety for the public and construction crews. The NPS will provide additional information on the work and traffic impacts ahead of the construction.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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.
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.
Some minor finishing work may continue during off-peak hours as barriers are removed, and final median restoration and landscaping is completed in the spring. Site cleanup is scheduled to be completed in late March (weather permitting), except for Route 123 Overpass repairs.
Some contract modification work is anticipated, including repairs near the Route 123 Bridge area and a mill and overlay on the haul road route from Spout Run to I-395 and from Ronald Regan Airport to First Street in Alexandria to First Street in Alexandria. Portions of exit ramps under each side of the overpass will close during construction and single lane closures at the Route 123 interchange may occur outside of peak hours, but full ramp closures are not anticipated. Crews will also repair drainage systems along Turkey Run Loop, where northbound and southbound GWMP motorists who wish to access the Loop will incur detours. See the Turkey Run Loop Drainage Repairs section above for more details. We will continue to share updates when available.
The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF) is a federal law that provides dedicated funding over five years to address deferred maintenance and improve infrastructure on public lands, including in national parks. The George Washington Memorial Parkway North Section Rehabilitation is funded through GAOA LRF, helping NPS deliver safety, drainage, and historic preservation improvements while stewarding taxpayer dollars responsibly.
The National Park Service (NPS), in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division (FHWA - EFLHD), manage the process of rehabilitating the northern section of the George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP).
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 repaired and rehabilitated deteriorating aspects of the roadway, implemented safety improvements, and preserved the cultural and historical characteristics of the parkway.
The Virginia Department of Transportation is continuing an express lanes project that connects directly to the George Washington Memorial Parkway. The Virginia Department of Transportation expects that work to be completed in 2026. Please check their project page for the most up-to-date information: https://495next.vdot.virginia.gov/about/#d.en.103055
Construction activities began in August 2022. The project reached substantial completion in January 7, 2026.
Targeted weekend and ramp closures can reduce the overall duration of work and improve safety for crews and motorists. Concentrated work windows can reduce the number of traffic switches, and the time workers spend next to live traffic.
The project rehabilitated pavement and drainage and strengthened roadside features. Drivers benefit from a smoother surface, safer transitions at ramps, better stormwater handling, and improved resilience during storms.
For hazards, contact George Washington Memorial Parkway dispatch and United States Park Police coordination at 202-610-7505. For emergencies, call 911.
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.
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.
Changes include:
• Realign entrance to the Route 123 eastbound on-ramp to southbound GWMP mainline. The roadway is 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.
