North Parkway Construction, News, and Impacts

GWMP Construction Infographic
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.

  • To opt in to receive email updates about traffic, meeting notices and information about major milestones please click here.
  • To contact the project team please e-mail us. 
  • View recordings of informational public meetings on our public meeting webpage.

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.
 
A graphic depicting how the new traffic arrangement will look.
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. In January 2024, the three-lane traffic pattern, with a reversible lane, between I-495 and Route 123 shifted from the northbound lanes to the southbound lanes of the parkway. 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: I-495 to North of Route 123

  • Northbound Lanes: The lane closest to the median is a reversible lane and will change direction to travel southbound during the morning rush hour and northbound during the evening rush hour. The right northbound lane remains open to traffic at all times.

  • Southbound Lanes: The southbound lane closest to the median is closed as part of rehabilitation activities. The right southbound lane remains open to traffic at all times.

Reversible Lane Schedule
The three-lane configuration extends from I-495 to north of Route 123 through mid-August. The reversible 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).
Starting in mid-August, crews will demolish the crossover at the I-495 interchange and the reversible lane will no longer be in use. Motorists can expect two travel lanes toward Washington D.C. during the morning rush hour and two travel lanes toward Maryland. Single lane closures will continue as crews continue landscaping works in the median.
 
Map of GWMP Schedule A-C NB Detour
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. on Saturday, August 16 until 6 p.m. on Sunday, August 17 

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

Detour Information: Motorists traveling northbound 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 George Washington Memorial Parkway (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.

 
Map of southbound closure and detour
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. on Saturday, August 9 until 6 p.m. on Sunday, August 10 

  • 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. 

 
Map of detour
Northbound Detour: Exit at Spout Run Parkway and follow signs to Glebe Road to Route 123 to I-495 north. Southbound Detour: Exit at Route 123 and follow signs to Spout Run Parkway to re-enter GWMP.

NPS

Parkway Closure Weekend of August 16

During the weekend of August 16, the NPS will temporarily close the northbound and southbound lanes between Spout Run Parkway and Route 123. The closure schedule and details are listed below: 

Route 123 to Spout Run Parkway Closure Schedule:  From 7 a.m. on Saturday, August 16 until 6 p.m. on Sunday, August 17

Northbound Parkway Detour Information: There will be no northbound travel lanes from Spout Run Parkway to the I-495 interchange. Motorists traveling northbound must exit at Spout Run Parkway and follow detour signs to Glebe Road to Route 123. From Route 123, motorists will continue to follow signs to reach I-495 north as shown on the detour map.

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

 
Detour map.
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.

 
GWMP Loop A Detour
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.
 
A graphic depicting work occurring in the left most lane while three other lanes have traffic.
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
 
An image showing lanes of traffic with construction
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

 
A graphic depicts construction workers in the Southbound lane, while traffic moves in three lanes (two nouthbound and one sorthbound) next to it.
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)

 
Aerial view of Route 123 and the proposed GWMP Interchange Option One. The curved sections in purple would be removed and the proposed configuration is in blue and is more linear. The Limits of Disturbance boundary is a dashed yellow line.
 

North Parkway News

Loading results...

    Last updated: August 6, 2025

    Park footer

    Contact Info

    Mailing Address:

    George Washington Memorial Parkway Headquarters
    700 George Washington Memorial Parkway

    McLean, VA 22101

    Phone:

    703 289-2500

    Contact Us