VDOT Washington Blvd. and Columbia Pike Interchange Improvement Project
1. Washington Boulevard and Columbia Pike Interchange
Improvement Project
**NOTICE 1 OF 2**
NEW TRAFFIC PATTERN AT COLUMBIA PIKE, WASHINGTON
BOULEVARD, AND I-395
th
Arlington—Beginning Thursday, January 30 (and possibly Friday, January 31st, depending on
weather), drivers heading to I‐395 from Columbia Pike or adjacent neighborhoods will use a
new traffic pattern:
Traffic going to I‐395 North will now turn left at the signal at South Quinn Street
(currently this traffic uses the ramp on the right). Look for the dedicated left‐turn lane.
At the top of the ramp, traffic will then bear right and merge onto Washington
Boulevard (at first onto the existing bridge, and then after the mainline Washington
Boulevard traffic is shifted to the newly constructed bridge, then the ramp traffic will
merge as shown in the exhibit below).
3. **NOTICE 2 OF 2**
COLUMBIA PIKE AND WASHINGTON BOULEVARD
INTERCHANGE DETOURS
Arlington—During the weekends of February 1st, February 8th, and February 15th (weather
permitting), Columbia Pike will be CLOSED, in both directions, between South Queen Street
and South Orme Street so that VDOT can safely demolish the remaining portion of the old
bridge that carried Washington Boulevard over Columbia Pike. The weekend detour is very
similar to the one use in November 2012 (for partial bridge demolition) and August 2013 (for
steel beam placement).
At this location ALL COLUMBIA PIKE TRAFFIC, including pedestrians and bicycles, will be
detoured around the work area to a temporary signalized intersection at Washington
Boulevard, as shown on Exhibit 1 (Green Arrows indicate detoured traffic, Blue Arrows indicate
existing movements that remain unaffected). Please note that the eastbound traffic bound for
I‐395 North and Washington Boulevard south will make a left turn at South Quinn Street and a
right turn onto southbound Washington Boulevard (see Notice 1 of 2 above). Westbound
Columbia Pike traffic bound for Washington Boulevard south or I‐395 North will follow the
Second Street South Detour (see Exhibit 2 below).
ALL WASHINGTON BOULEVARD TRAFFIC will remain unaffected, with the following exceptions:
(1) northbound Washington Boulevard to westbound Columbia Pike will be detoured to Second
Street South interchange and back to Columbia Pike via South Courthouse Road (see Exhibit 2);
and (2) southbound Washington Boulevard to eastbound Columbia Pike will turn left at the
temporary signal on Washington Boulevard and follow the detour back to Route 244.
In addition, SOUTH QUEEN STREET will be closed to outgoing traffic at its intersection with
Columbia Pike. Right‐turn entering traffic will be permitted onto South Queen Street. All local
traffic bound for Columbia Pike will be detoured to the traffic signal at South Quinn Street.
Detour signs and other signage will be in place directing traffic to the various destinations.
The following description is applicable to each of the three weekends: Work to setup the
detours will begin on Friday night at 9:00pm with the full closure of Columbia Pike starting in
the overnight hours before Saturday morning. Once the detours are in place, bridge
demolition will commence and continue all day on Saturday and Sunday. The detours will be
removed and all traffic lanes, ramps and signals will be restored to its previous configuration by
4:30am Monday morning. Additional weekends may be required if inclement weather
prevents work on the weekends noted above.
For more information on the project, please see our website at:
http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/northernvirginia/route_27‐244_interchange.asp
4. Exhibit 1. Columbia Pike Detour in vicinity of Washington Boulevard Interchange for Bridge Demolition Work
5. Exhibit 2. Northbound Washington Boulevard to Eastbound Columbia Pike Detour for Bridge Demolition Work.