495 Express Lanes Northern Extension (NEXT) - Design-Build Procurement
October 8, 2020
The express version
- The 495 Express Lanes will be extended 2 miles north toward the American Legion Bridge and provide new connections to the Dulles Toll Road and George Washington Memorial Parkway
- Learn more about procurement for the project on this page
- Contact our procurement team with any questions at NEXTProcurement@transurban.com
Project NEXT is a 2 mile extension of the 495 Express Lanes in Fairfax County, Virginia. The Project will extend along I-495 from the current northern end of the 495 Express Lanes near near Old Dominion Drive (Route 738) to near the George Washington Memorial Parkway.
Transurban will be conducting a two-stage procurement for a fixed price design-build contract. Go here to learn more about the project.
The Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process concluded on April 27, 2020, with the shortlisted bidders being selected and notified. Go here to view the firms selected.
The Request for Proposal (RFP) was released on October 8, 2020 to the shortlisted bidders.
Point of Contact
For questions about the Project design-build procurement, please contact the Procurement team at NEXTProcurement@transurban.com.
Black Lives Matter
June 11, 2020
Black Lives Matter.
Driving out racism is something that can only be achieved if everyone plays their part.
The power of transportation to bring communities together, to connect people, and to provide opportunities is something Transurban, the Express Lanes’ operator, strongly believes in. That has never felt more important than it does today.
We are taking this moment to reinforce to all of our employees, partners, and customers that Black Lives Matter. We denounce all forms of racism, celebrate the diversity of our team and community, and challenge ourselves to do more to propel a culture of inclusion and respect at our company, in our communities and within the transportation industry.
Success can only be achieved when people of color face no barriers and have equal opportunity to thrive and prosper.
The passion of people protesting in communities across this country deserves to be matched by an ambition at every company and every sector to achieve racial equality.
We will work every day to make that true. We are with you on the road ahead to drive out racism.
-Jennifer Aument, President, Transurban North America
Travel tips for Thanksgiving 2019
November 25, 2019
The express version
- To save time and take advantage of lower tolls, the Express Lanes team encourages drivers to use the 95 and 395 Express Lanes on Tuesday, November 26, before 3 p.m. or after 7 p.m. or Wednesday, November 27, before noon or after 5 p.m.
- Drivers could save more than one hour in travel time by taking the 95 and 395 Express Lanes this week
- Last Thanksgiving, drivers who used the 95 Express Lanes saved an average of 32 minutes. Those who traveled an hour before or after the busiest travel times saved between 20 to 25 percent off their tolls
Before drivers hit the road this Thanksgiving, the Express Lanes team recommends planning ahead to avoid traffic and delays.
Traffic on I-95 is expected to surge on Tuesday, November 26 and Wednesday, November 27. If last year is any indication, drivers could save more than one hour in travel time by taking the 95 and 395 Express Lanes this week. The now open 395 Express Lanes begin near the Pentagon and run 8 miles south to near Edsall Road.
What to expect and when to travel
In 2018, more than 227,000 trips were taken on the 95 Express Lanes between Tuesday, November 20 and Sunday, November 25. Drivers who took the Lanes saved an average of 32 minutes, with some saving more than one hour compared to those who took the regular lanes. In fact, drivers who traveled an hour before or after the busiest travel times saved between 20 to 25 percent off their tolls.
This year:
- Traffic will likely be heaviest on Tuesday, November 26 and Wednesday, November 27. For drivers going south, the best times to travel include:
- Tuesday, November 26: Before 3 p.m. or after 7 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 27: Before noon or after 5 p.m.
- Toll prices may be higher than normal during busy travel times, so it pays to plan ahead. Drivers can check real-time toll pricing and live traffic updates by heading to ExpressLanes.com or downloading the free Express Lanes mobile app (Apple App Store® or the Google Play Store®).
- To help the region with the changing holiday travel patterns, the 95 and 395 Express Lanes reversal schedule will be adjusted:
- Wednesday, November 27: Southbound opens around noon.
- Thursday, November 28: Northbound opens around 2 a.m. and remains all day.
How to stay updated
Once drivers are on the road, pricing and traffic updates will be available on overhead signs. Updates will also be available online via Twitter(@VAExpressLanes).
As a reminder: An E-ZPass® or E-ZPass® Flex is required to use the 495, 95 and 395 Express Lanes. If out-of-town visitors accidently travel on the Lanes without an E-ZPass® or E-ZPass® Flex, they can head to ExpressLanes.com/pay or contact the customer service center at 1-855-497-9777.
395 HOV converts to Express Lanes this weekend – important safety reminders for drivers
November 14, 2019
This weekend the 395 HOV lane corridor will close so crews can complete final preparations to open the 395 Express Lanes on Sunday night.
- The I-395 HOV corridor from near the Springfield interchange to the DC line. will completely close Friday night at about 8 p.m.
- Rolling closures along both the northbound and southbound regular lanes will be in effect at locations along the corridor throughout the weekend so crews can remove HOV signage or unveil Express Lanes signage – some arterial roads which connect to the 395 Express Lanes may have rolling closures as well, such as Seminary Road and Shirlington Circle
- Traffic signals at the Eads Street interchange will begin flashing red Thursday, November 14 in preparation for activation on Sunday night when the Lanes open
- On Sunday night, drivers should not attempt to enter the northbound 395 Express Lanes until gates are up, and no police or other vehicles are blocking access to the entry ramp
395 Express Lanes open November 17, tolling begins
November 4, 2019
The express version
- On November 17, the 395 HOV lanes will become dynamically tolled express lanes, offering busy drivers a convenient new choice.
- All drivers will need an E-ZPass® or E-ZPass® Flex to use the new 395 Express Lanes.
- Like the rest of the network, tolling and HOV-3 rules will be in effect 24/7, 365 days a year.
- Drivers will have quicker access to the Pentagon and Pentagon City thanks to the new Eads Street Interchange. Exiting to the Pentagon – remember to stay left.
The 395 HOV lanes are set to open as dynamically tolled express lanes on the night of Sunday, November 17, pending weather and on-road crew activities.
For final preparation, the 395 HOV lanes will close the evening of Friday, November 15. With safety as the priority, the Express Lanes team is preparing drivers for the changes.
Here’s what drivers need to know before hitting the road
- All ramps that currently lead to the 395 HOV lanes will require an E-ZPass® or E-ZPass® Flex when the lanes become the 395 Express Lanes. This includes the northbound ramps near S. Eads Street.
- The 395 Express Lanes will pick up where the 95 Express Lanes leave off (around Edsall Road) and run up to the 14th Street Bridge in D.C., giving drivers a continuous trip to the D.C. line.
- The redesigned interchange at S. Eads Street will bring quicker access to the Pentagon and Pentagon City, but it may take drivers some time to adjust to the new traffic patterns. There will be two ramps to exit the northbound 395 Express Lanes to S. Eads Street – one ramp to the Pentagon and another ramp to Pentagon City. If exiting to the Pentagon remember to stay left. New traffic lights will also go into effect.
- Beginning the evening of November 14, new stoplights on S. Eads Street and the Pentagon reservation will be placed into flash mode until the Lanes open on Sunday, November 17. Virginia State Police and/or Safety Service Patrol will be on location to assist travelers.
- The time it takes to reverse the 395 and 95 Express Lanes may take a bit longer during early operations because of the new stoplights at S. Eads Street.
Tips to stay safe on the road
- Drivers need to stay alert and give themselves extra drive time while getting used to the new routes.
- Drivers who accidently get on the 395 Express Lanes shouldn’t worry. They should safely continue until they reach their destination, then give the Express Lanes customer service team a call, who will work with drivers that get on the Lanes by mistake.
- Beginning the evening of November 15, drivers traveling I-395 during late-night periods should take extra caution as there will be crews and police on the road to unveil all signage and coordinate the opening.
E-ZPass® or E-ZPass® Flex will be required at all entry ramps to the Express Lanes
Drivers who get on the northbound 395 HOV lanes just before D.C. may be less likely to have an E-ZPass® compared to other drivers on the HOV lanes. Drivers are reminded that the ramps to the northbound Express Lanes from S. Eads Street and from the regular lanes just before the 14th Street Bridge will require an E-ZPass®.
Carpools with 3 or more people will need an E-ZPass® Flex to travel for free. The Express Lanes team is offering an option for carpoolers who don’t have an E-ZPass® Flex when the lanes open. At any point before December 1, carpoolers who don’t have an E-ZPass® can contact the Express Lanes team to register their license plate number for seven days of toll-free travel on the Lanes. The grace period is to give drivers time to order an E-ZPass® Flex online or pick one up from an area retailer.
Drivers can get an E-ZPass® by signing up online, calling 877-762-7824, or in-person from E-ZPass® Customer Service Centers or E-ZPass® On-the-Go retail locations. Still have questions? Head to the Express Lanes website for more information on E-ZPass® and E-ZPass® Flex.
Safely stay updated once the 395 Express Lanes are open
Once the Lanes are open, pricing will be available on overhead signs. Updates about any on-road issues will be shared via Twitter (@VAExpressLanes).
The Express Lanes team is ready to help. If drivers have more questions about the 395 Express Lanes, they can head on over to the 395 Express Lanes website, call at 1-855-495-9777, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.–7 p.m., or connect on Facebook or Twitter.
395 Express Lanes testing: Friday, October 25 -Saturday, October 26
October 25, 2019
The express version
- Drivers can expect to see testing on the soon-to-open 395 Express Lanes starting this Friday night and into Saturday
- The testing will affect the 95 Express Lanes which will also be closed
- This activity will include tests designed to make sure drivers have a smooth experience once the Lanes open
The 95 Express Lanes reversal schedule will be adjusted this weekend due to additional testing for the 395 Express Lanes which will open in November.
Due to the nature of the testing activities, the reversal schedule is subject to change and exact times are not available. Drivers should review on-road signs that indicate whether the Lanes are open or closed and should never attempt to enter the Lanes if an access point is closed.
Friday
- Southbound Lanes close between 11 p.m. and midnight
Saturday
- Remain closed until early morning
- Open northbound for a brief period in the early morning
- Close for reversal
- Open southbound beginning mid-morning until 2 p.m.
- Close for reversal
- Open northbound around 4 p.m. and remain northbound throughout the weekend
The 395 HOV lanes will remain closed throughout the weekend. Test messages will be visible on select dynamic message signs along the I-395 corridor.
High occupancy vehicle enforcement blitz scheduled for 10/24 on northern Virginia express lanes
October 24, 2019
ALEXANDRIA, VA – To ensure fairness for all drivers, the Virginia State Police (VSP); Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), operator of the 66 Express Lanes inside the Beltway; and the 495/95/395 Express Lanes team are working together to strictly enforce high occupancy vehicle (HOV) laws.
On Thursday, October 24, VSP will be coordinating an HOV enforcement blitz across northern Virginia. This means drivers can expect to see an increased police presence on the 495 and 95 Express Lanes and the 66 Express Lanes. Troopers will be on the lookout for drivers not in compliance with the HOV laws.
“Troopers are essential to keeping the busy HOV and express lanes highway corridors in northern Virginia safe and efficient,” said Captain J. P. Koushel, Virginia State Police Fairfax Division Commander. “Whether responding to incidents, stopping dangerous drivers or citing HOV violators, we patrol the roads each and every day to make sure drivers are in compliance with Virginia law.”
In addition to law enforcement on express lanes, the 495/95/395 and 66 Express Lanes teams continue to deploy the latest technology to safely identify violators and deter drivers from evading tolls (the 395 Express Lanes open in November). Most recently, a mobile beacon has been deployed on the 495 and 95 Express Lanes. This mobile tool can easily move to locations throughout the 495/95/395 Express Lanes network to alert VSP when an E-ZPass® Flex is in HOV mode. The 66 Express Lanes will be following suit soon with the same mobile technology.
“Northern Virginia has more than 80 miles of HOV and express lanes operating today that provide commuters with reliable travel options and encourage carpooling and transit use,” said VDOT Tolling Division Administrator David Caudill. “HOV cheating on these facilities is illegal and it can negatively impact the travel of motorists who follow the rules. That’s why we continuously work with partners and Virginia State Police to deter cheaters by developing new and efficient methods for stronger enforcement.”
The mobile beacon is just one of many tools express lanes operators have been leveraging to ensure fair travel on the lanes, in addition to the following:
- Educational communications to E-ZPass® Flex customers who travel on the express lanes
- Advertising campaigns educating motorists on how to correctly use E-ZPass® Flex and rules of the road
- Advisory messages on dynamic message signs along express lanes corridors
- Increased VSP presence focused on HOV enforcement
- Handheld E-ZPass® readers to aid VSP troopers in on-road enforcement efforts
- Enforcement system improvements and evaluation and piloting of additional technologies
- Materials for troopers to provide to drivers who are stopped for HOV violations
According to studies by the 495/95/395 Express Lanes team, a majority of Express Lanes drivers support HOV enforcement.
“The rules are there and spelled out. It's a form of theft,” said a frequent Express Lanes driver as part of a focus group. The driver added, “If you just don't feel like paying the toll, you're cheating. The lanes are designed to encourage carpooling and raise money for road funding from those who choose to use the more convenient method despite lack of carpool.”
Drivers should know the laws before hitting the road.
| 495, 95 and 395 Express Lanes | 66 Express Lanes Inside the Beltway | |
|---|---|---|
| HOV car occupancy requirements | 3 or more people | 2 or more people |
| HOV laws in effect | At all times. 365 days a year, 24 hours a day | Weekdays: Eastbound 5:30 to 9:30 a.m. Westbound 3 to 7 p.m. |
Express lanes can significantly reduce traffic congestion for all commuters while carpooling can help keep tolls lower and reduce harmful carbon emissions from heavy traffic flow.
However, express lanes are dynamically priced, so the more cars on the road, the higher the toll. This means that anyone who cheats by claiming to be a HOV without meeting the requirements could raise tolls for surrounding drivers who are following the laws.
Misusing E-ZPass® Flex on the express lanes is against the law. If stopped by law enforcement, a violator can be fined up to $1,000 and subject to traffic violation points added to his or her driving record.
Drivers can get an E-ZPass® Flex online by visiting www.ezpassva.com, E-ZPass “On-the-Go” retail locations, in-person from E-ZPass®/DMV Customer Service Centers or calling E-ZPass® customer service at 877-762-7824.
Head to www.ezpassva.com for information on how to use an E-ZPass® Flex.
For more information, please contact Michael McGurk at MMcGurk@transurban.com or Michelle Holland at michelle.holland@vdot.virginia.gov.
Starting this November, you’ll need an E-ZPass® to travel on the 395 Express Lanes
October 22, 2019
The express version
- All ramps that currently lead to the 395 HOV lanes will require an E-ZPass® or E-ZPass® Flex when the 395 Express Lanes open, including the ramps near South Eads St.
- Get your E-ZPass® before the Lanes open this fall for smooth travel
Starting this November, all drivers will need an E-ZPass to drive on the 395 Express Lanes
Starting when the 395 Express Lanes open, all drivers (except motorcyclists) will need an E-ZPass® or E-ZPass® Flex to use the Lanes. This means that all current 395 HOV lane entrance ramps will become Express Lanes entrances.
This includes the ramp from South Eads St. and the ramp from the northbound regular lanes near South Eads St.
Whether you’re driving alone or carpooling, you’ll need an E-ZPass® to use the Lanes. If you plan are carpooling with three or more people in your car, you’ll want an E-ZPass® Flex to travel for free.
If you have more questions about the 395 Express Lanes opening this November, head on over to our page here.
Get your E-ZPass® today to ensure a smooth journey once the 395 Express Lanes open
Head on over to the Virginia or Maryland E-ZPass® websites. To get an E-ZPass®, you’ll need your:
- Driver’s license number
- License plate number
- Credit card information
Live in Virginia? You can also get an E-ZPass® or E-ZPass® Flex at:
- AAA Mid-Atlantic locations
- Select Wegmans locations
- Select Giant Food Stores
- Select DMVs
- Tysons Corner Center
Toll revenue from the 395 Express Lanes to support mass transit and multimodal improvements in Northern Virginia
October 18, 2019
The express version
- $18.9 million from future 395 Express Lanes toll revenue has been earmarked for mass transit and multimodal improvements
- 10 projects will benefit from this first round of funding, which will help save commuters close to 89,000 hours of travel each year
Mass transit projects have $18.9 million coming their way thanks to the 395 Express Lanes
When the 395 Express Lanes open this November, the toll revenue will be used to help project new commuting options along I-95 and I-395. Virginia’s Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) just approved 10 transit and commuting projects in Northern Virginia that will be funded by the 395 tolls. That means $18.9 million dollars will be headed for programs that will improve commuting in the corridor.
These 10 projects are expected to move an additional 700 people through the I-395/95 corridor each day, and save commuters almost 89,000 hours each year.
Most of the first round of funding (around $17.5 million) will support new or enhanced bus services, with the rest going toward programs or services that encourage alternative travel modes, like carpooling.
The 395 Express Lanes will give $15M each year for transit and multimodal improvements. The first payment will offer new and enhanced bus service via DASH, OmniRide and Fairfax Connector – so hop on board.
This mass transit funding is part of a larger commitment by the Express Lanes to support commuters along I-95/395with $15 million in transit funding every year.
Interested in learning more about the 395 Express Lanes and these projects? Head to www.expresslanes.com/395 for more information
395 Express Lanes testing: Friday, October 18-Saturday, October 19
October 17, 2019
The express version
- Drivers can expect to see testing on the soon-to-open 395 Express Lanes starting this Friday night and into Saturday
- The testing will affect the 95 Express Lanes which will also be closed
- This activity will include tests designed to make sure drivers have a smooth experience once the Lanes open
Be prepared for lane closures for testing on October 18-19
To prepare for the 395 Express Lanes opening in November, we will be testing signs on the 395 HOV lanes on the night of Friday, October 18 and into Saturday, October 19. As per usual, the 395 HOV lanes will remain closed throughout the weekend. You can expect to see information displayed on the pricing signs on the 395 HOV lanes. No need to be alarmed, we’re just conducting some tests on the signs to make sure drivers have the best experience once we open the Express Lanes this November.
This testing will also cause closures on the 95 Express Lanes. The 95 Express Lanes reversal schedule will be adjusted this weekend due to testing. Due to the nature of the testing activities, the reversal schedule is subject to change and exact times are not available. Drivers should review on-road signs that indicate whether the Lanes are open or closed and should never attempt to enter the Lanes if an access point is closed.
Friday
- Southbound Lanes close around 11 p.m.
Saturday
- Remain closed until early morning
- Open northbound for a period of about 3 hours in the early morning
- Close for reversal
- Open southbound beginning mid-morning until 2 p.m.
- Close for reversal
- Open northbound around 4 p.m. and remain northbound throughout the weekend
From Friday night into Saturday, you should take extra care if you are traveling through the area. You can also sign up for e-newsletters and traffic alerts on the Contact Us page.
Safe Travels,
The Express Lanes Team