I-495 Benefits
I-495 east (from Tysons) to I-95 south
The new configuration eliminates a major bottleneck. Outer Loop traffic has three exit lanes. Two of those lanes carry traffic heading to points south of Springfield. Those lanes link to the lanes carrying I-95 south traffic, but there's no merging involved. Traffic heading to Springfield will have its own exit lane separate from the long-distance traffic and the only other vehicles using this lane will be Inner Loop traffic heading to Rt. 644. The complicated merging is gone.
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I-495 west (from Wilson Bridge) to I-95 south
In the past, traffic on the Inner Loop heading south merged with other traffic from the Outer Loop as it headed toward Springfield. Once cars reached I-95 south it was a mad rush to the right or left to reach the Rt. 644 exits or I-95 south. This has changed.
The new configuration includes the massive bridge that towers above the interchange. It features two lanes to carry traffic from the Inner Loop directly to I-95 south of Springfield. The lanes join other I-95 south lanes — but there isn't any merging for several miles. Traffic heading from the Inner Loop to Springfield has its own exit farther west on the Beltway. Those vehicles don't mix with long-distance traffic, decreasing the amount of merging.
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