I-95 around DC--which way?

[Uncleromulus]

Toward the Wilson Bridge (my usual route) or towards Tysons Corner (where my AAA Trip-Tik , for some reason, has routed me)?

Any CURRENT ongoing costruction, etc that might favor one way over the other? I find it easier to continue S. on 95 if I use theWilson Bridge and the fly-over.

 

[Pinnochio]

there is a lot of construction going on there but i did go straight thru in June without a problem...it was about 1:30 pm before any rush hour traffic hit....the Tysons Corner route will loop you around DC but i don't see that being any faster as it puts you back on 95 just past the Wilson bridge...

i say straight thru....

 

[DEA]

If you are not hitting around rush hour (basically 6am-10am and 3:30pm-8pm... just my experience in the area with bad, bad traffic), going through Maryland is probably the better route. The Wilson Bridge can be, though is not guaranteed to be, a nightmare if anything happens during rush hour. The westward route through VA has a lot of construction now, as well, which does not help matters at any time of day, but I see a real spike around 4:30pm trying to get from the Tysons Corner area down to I66 on I495.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I know it won't be easy either way--but we're leaving Glen Rock at 4:00 AM, so I HOPE to be around DC and headed in to VA. by 6:00 AM.

 

[patclairesmom]

The one going towards the east-I think that's your usual route. The other way has a lot of local traffic. We took it once, by mistake (following AAA) and I hated it.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I woder why AAA does that when there seems to be no major ONGOING construction---??

 

[mikehn]

Lots of construction on the Tysons side of the beltway. Coming through there at 6am is risky.

 

[ssawka]

I would say to stay on I-95 through Maryland. The construction on I-495 is quite bad. Also, is there anyway you can leave earlier? 6:00 AM is generally the start of rush hour.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I could leave at 3:30 I suppose--I'm a bit less than an hour from BWI airport, and "usually" another hour has me over the Wilson Bridge and headed South--away from the mess of traffic coming in from VA.

 

[dblr]

Leaving that early I would take the 95 route, alot of constuction on the west side. Tune into 103.5 fm they do traffic on the 8's and are pretty good with info and even detours around a problem.

 

[ssawka]

I could leave at 3:30 I suppose--I'm a bit less than an hour from BWI airport, and "usually" another hour has me over the Wilson Bridge and headed South--away from the mess of traffic coming in from VA.

Oh that should be ok (although the earlier the better). I misunderstood what you meant by "entering Virginia". I thought you meant via 495.

 

[GranddadTom]

Uncleromulus -

You give so many people such good advice on these boards that I'm going to give you some that you can take to the bank. I commute on the Beltway every morning, arriving at work around 6:30 am at Exit 28 (New Hampshire Ave) coming from the west. I see the people coming down Rt. 95 and heading toward the west (Opposite the direction I am driving). Most mornings that is a nightmare. You think getting there at 6:00 am will have you there before the rush hour. Think again! You DEFINITELY want to go to the east and across the Wilson Bridge. For some reason, where Rt. 95 empties into the Beltway, in the morning, most people go west (that's were their work is) and the road to the east is generally clear. Can that way have a bad day? Sometimes - but the other way has a bad day every day. Oh, and did someone mention the work at Tyson's Corner? Another reason to go east. The good news is that the flow of traffic on Rt 95 south of Washington will be into the city so you should have smooth sailing there.

 

[Uncleromulus]

East it shall be!!!

 

[Belle5]

For all you DC traffic experts...could you give some help? Two Fridays from now my son and his new wife will leave Georgetown University around 2 or 3 pm to meet me in Williamsburg. I am wondering if they are "in for it" with traffic or if they will likely beat the rush. I am trying to figure out if we can celebrate my son's birthday that night for dinner, as it will be the only night we're all together.

**Editing this to say they are leaving DC on a Thursday afternoon, not Friday...

 

[vicki_c]

On a Friday afternoon at that time, it will be a mess leaving DC. If they could leave closer to noon, that would help somewhat. But Fridays are just going to be bad.

 

[Belle5]

On a Friday afternoon at that time, it will be a mess leaving DC. If they could leave closer to noon, that would help somewhat. But Fridays are just going to be bad.

I don't know what I was thinking. It will actually be on a Thursday afternoon. Will that change the outcome?

 

[Uncleromulus]

To report that we went East and were over the Wilson Bridge en route down 95 just before 6:00 AM. Nary a problem (tho there was a great deal of traffic even then. But I could only smile as we looked across on 95 to see the traffic coming in from Va.--literally miles of bumper to bumper traffic as far as the eye could see.
How do they deal with that each and every day????

 

[MrsWendy]

I don't know what I was thinking. It will actually be on a Thursday afternoon. Will that change the outcome?

Thursday afternoons are usually better than Fridays. But traffic can still a problem much of the way between Springfield and Fredericksburg. If your son and his wife can leave around 2 pm there should be a decent chance that the traffic won't be too bad. If they leave at 3 pm then they'll be pushing their luck. After 3 pm, all bets are off.

 

[Belle5]

Thursday afternoons are usually better than Fridays. But traffic can still a problem much of the way between Springfield and Fredericksburg. If your son and his wife can leave around 2 pm there should be a decent chance that the traffic won't be too bad. If they leave at 3 pm then they'll be pushing their luck. After 3 pm, all bets are off.

I will pass on the information. Good to know. Thanks!

 

[Lassie Lynne]

To report that we went East and were over the Wilson Bridge en route down 95 just before 6:00 AM. Nary a problem (tho there was a great deal of traffic even then. But I could only smile as we looked across on 95 to see the traffic coming in from Va.--literally miles of bumper to bumper traffic as far as the eye could see.
How do they deal with that each and every day????

The only way to deal with it is that for every mile you get out of the city, the cost of your mortgage/rent goes down.....at least, that is what I used to mumble as I was in traffic when I used to commute on the Beltway.