April 2005

Steel beams placed over the Capital Beltway, I-495N, inner loop, (towards Tysons Corner) part of the new I-395S bridge to the Capital Beltway, I-495 East/I-95N, outer loop. Bridge is expected to open to traffic later in 2005.

Steel beam placement continues on B-627 as it approaches I-495E, outer loop.

Steel beams placement in the median area between the inner and outer loop on the Capital Beltway, I-495.

Saturday night steel erection begins around 8 p.m. and steel crews have only until 10 a.m. on Sunday to complete the work set for the mission. Photo shows early Sunday morning and the last of the beams are being placed into position.

Saturday night steel erection at about midnight. Steel workers setting placement for splicing of two beams that form one complete line of steel. The spliced girder measures just short of the length of a football field and weighs in at about 62 tons.

Mission complete. Sunday morning, 10 a.m. I-495E, outer loop reopens to traffic.

Steel beams for B-627 continues to be hung continuing work where worked completed the previous Sunday morning. Traffic on the Capital Beltway, I-495E was detoured onto I-95S.

Piers being constructed to carry the future steel beams for B-609, the new bridge that will carry traffic from I-95N to the Capital Beltway, I-495E, outer loop. Motorists on I-95N heading toward the Woodrow Wilson Bridge will no longer need to get into the right lanes to get on the ramp to the outer loop. The new bridge is expected to be open by the end of 2005. The opening of this bridge will bring welcomed relief by not only I-95N motorists heading to the outer loop, but also to motorists entering onto I-95N from Springfield/Franconia area as a good amount of the morning traffic heading to the outer loop will no longer be on I-95N area by Route 644-Springfield/Franconia.

Another look at the new piers under construction for B-609, the new I-95N bridge to I-495E, outer loop. Photo is shot looking at I-95N traffic coming up from the south. In the background is the Springfield Tower Building.