Officials Warn of Big Weekend Backups on D.C. Beltway

Officials are urging motorists to avoid the Washington, D.C., area Capital Beltway this weekend near the new Wilson Bridge in Virginia, warning that traffic will be reduced to a single lane and could back up traffic for 10 to 15 miles.

Officials said motorists should avoid the Beltway’s (Interstate 95/I-495) southbound Inner Loop from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday, when it will be narrowed to one lane for construction work, according to the Wilson Bridge Project’s Web site.

If just 40% of weekend travelers avoid the area, backups could reach 10 to 15 miles and delays could extend to as long as 90 minutes, according to the site.

Officials recommend that southbound motorists traveling from Maryland south to Virginia travel on the west side of the Beltway (I-495) in order to avoid the affected area all weekend.