Drivers will get a bit of a reprieve this weekend now that a major steel beam placement project on the Virginia side of the Wilson Bridge is being delayed for five or six weeks.
The work, which would have squeezed portions of the Beltway down to a single lane and shut down traffic completely for three intervals of 40 minutes, is being put off until late July due to contractor scheduling changes, said projectspokeswoman Michelle Holland.
Meanwhile, Metro is warning of delays on the Green, Orange and Red Lines during the weekend as track maintenance and railcar testing projects continue.
Orange Line trains will share one track between the Ballston-MU and East Falls Church-VT/UVA stations from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, causing 15- to 20-minute delays. Red Line trains will share one track between Silver Spring and Fort Totten stations from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday with 15-minute delays. And Green Line trains will share one track between the Greenbelt and College Park stations from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday causing 10-minute delays. Virginia Department of Transportation officials said drivers can expect a series of delays tonight and Saturday night as workers install concrete beams for the new HOV lanes bridge over the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks at the Springfield Mixing Bowl.
VDOT crews will have to shut down Interstate 395 South and the ramps feeding it between eight and 10 times for as long as 15 minutes to ensure driver safety, officials said.
During the intermittent closures, officials said detours around the work zone should cause 15- to 20-minute delays. Stoppages will occur 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. today and 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. Saturday night.
