North Parkway Rehabilitation

 

The National Park Service, in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration, completed the rehabilitation of the northern section of the George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP) in spring 2026. The rehabilitation included approximately 7.6 miles of road and bridge work from Spout Run Parkway to Interstate 495.

This was the first major rehabilitation of the northern section of the parkway since it was originally completed in 1962. The north parkway is the busiest section of the GWMP, serving about 26 million drivers annually. Through the rehabilitation of this historic parkway, which was established as a recreation and environmental conservation area to serve pleasure traffic, the National Park Service can ensure that the parkway remains a viable, critical link in the regional transportation network, as well as a national park.

The rehabilitation preserves and revives the parkway’s historic beauty and significance - including reopening scenic views to Washington, D.C - while modernizing key features to enhance the driving experience, safety and water drainage. This $167 million rehabilitation project began construction in 2022 and was funded by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). The rehabilitation included:

• replacing the asphalt pavement between Spout Run Parkway and Interstate 495

• redesigning portions of the Route 123 interchange

• repairing stormwater management systems

• reconstructing stone walls and roadside barriers to upgrade motorist safety

• rehabilitating the historic overlooks

• lengthening entrance and exit lanes at some interchanges

• performing structural repairs on bridges in this segment

• and re-open historic views along the parkway

During rehabilitation efforts, special care was taken to protect and preserve the cultural and natural resources of the parkway. 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.

 

Rehabilitation project at a glance

• Length rehabilitated: 7.6 miles

• Location: Between Spout Run Parkway and Interstate 495

• Scope: New asphalt pavement; structural repairs on bridges; a redesigned Route 123 interchange; upgraded stone walls and roadside barriers, repaired stormwater management systems; lengthened entrance and exit lanes at some interchanges; revived the historic overlooks and beauty of the parkway.

• Timeline:
  • Contract awarded (Dec. 2021)
  • Design and pre-construction work (winter 2022)
  • Construction began (summer 2022)
  • Substantial completion (Jan. 2026)
  • Ribbon cutting (Jun. 2026)

• Budget: Approximately $167 million funded by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA)

• What visitors gain: Drivers now enjoy a smoother journey credited to rehabilitated bridges, improved drainage and upgraded roadside infrastructure. These enhancements support safer travel and strengthen the long-term durability of the parkway. Visitors experience restored overlooks and renewed views of the Potomac River and Washington D.C., while the parkway’s defining landscape and historic character remain protected.