Traffic on the Capital Beltway and the Washington area’s other major roads and arteries was much lighter than expected Tuesday, despite several early morning traffic jams, as hundreds of thousands flocked to the Mall on foot or via Metro.

There were reports of delays of up to two hours on Interstate 66 eastbound before the Vienna Metro stop at the end of the Orange Line and on Interstate 95 northbound before the Franconia-Springfield stop at the end of the Blue Line between 6 and 7 a.m. By 7:45 a.m., traffic had dissipated somewhat as Metro parking lots filled up, said a spokesman for the Maryland State Highway Administration.