Route 50 Interchange

The Route 50 Interchange is being rebuilt and improved as part of the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Project. The new interchange design will:

Add Express Lanes access to and from the east
Construct new Route 50 bridges over I-66 to improve traffic flow and create room for future mass transit
Add noise wall along the ramp from I-66 West to Route 50 West
Build a shared-use path through the interchange connecting Random Hills Park and Fairfax Corner with Fairfax Farms Road and points to the east

Get a closer look at what’s planned through the Transform 66 Interactive Map.

Overnight Closures and Traffic Stoppages on I-66 East and West and Route 50 West in Fairfax for Overhead Bridge Work at I-66/Route 50 Interchange

Bridge beam installation for the new Route 50 West Bridge over I-66 will require lane closures and stoppages on I-66 East and Route 50 West this week. The ramp from I-66 East to Route 50 West will also be closed.

Drivers should expect delays if traveling in this area and should consider using alternate routes.

Thursday, March 4
I-66 East from Monument Drive to Route 50

I-66 East will be reduced to one travel lane approaching Route 50 from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Drivers should expect periodic stoppages of up to 20 minutes on eastbound I-66 between 10:30 p.m. and 4 a.m.
All lanes will reopen by 5 a.m.

Route 50 West from Waples Mill Road to I-66

Route 50 West will be reduced to one travel lane approaching I-66 from 10 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
Drivers should expect periodic stoppages of up to 20 minutes on westbound Route 50 between 10:30 p.m. and 5 a.m.
All lanes will reopen by 5:30 a.m.

Ramp from I-66 East to Route 50 West

The ramp will be closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Traffic will be detoured prior to the closure to Route 50 East, stay to the left and make a U-turn from the left-most left turn lane at the Waples Mill Road traffic signal on to Route 50 West.

Bridge beam installation will continue on I-66 East and West approaching Route 50 during the overnight hours Friday, March 5. I-66 East and West will be reduced to a single travel lane in each direction for about one mile at the I-66/Route 50 Interchange. Two-way traffic will run on the I-66 West side so that crews can safely install bridge beams over I-66 East.

Route 50 West at I-66 will be reduced to a single travel lane with traffic stoppages as well, and multiple ramps will be closed at the interchange. Drivers traveling on I-66 and Route 50 West during this time should expect delays and should consider using alternate routes.

Details include:

Friday, March 5
I-66 East and West Between Monument Drive and Waples Mill Road

Around 11 p.m. traffic on I-66 East approaching Monument Drive will be narrowed to a single lane and directed to cross over on to the I-66 West side of the roadway. Eastbound traffic will remain in this pattern until east of Route 50, where it will then cross back over to the I-66 East side of the roadway through a gap in the median barrier and resume normal travel.
Around 11 p.m. traffic on I-66 West approaching Waples Mill Road will be narrowed to a single right lane and remain on the right side of the interstate beyond Monument Drive. Westbound traffic will resume normal travel following the point where eastbound traffic crosses on to the westbound lanes.
Between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. two-way traffic on I-66 West will be separated by traffic barrels and one closed travel lane. State police will be on-site to assist with traffic control and response.
All lanes on I-66 East will reopen by 6 a.m.

Ramp from Monument Drive to I-66 East/from I-66 West

The ramp from Monument Drive to I-66 East/from I-66 West will be closed from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Ramp from I-66 East to Route 50 West

The ramp from I-66 East to Route 50 West will be closed from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Traffic will be detoured prior to the closure to Route 50 East, stay to the left and make a U-turn from the left-most left turn lane at the Waples Mill Road traffic signal on to Route 50 West.

Route 50 West from Waples Mill Road to I-66

Route 50 West will be reduced to one travel lane approaching I-66 from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Drivers should expect periodic stoppages of up to 20 minutes between 11 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.

All work is weather dependent and will be rescheduled if inclement conditions occur.

Daytime Closure of Ramp from Route 50 West to I-66 West Planned for Saturday, Feb. 27, for Paving

UPDATE (3/3/2021): This work has been postponed due to weather conditions not suitable for paving. A new date has not yet been set.

The ramp from westbound Route 50 to westbound I-66 is scheduled to close Saturday, February 27, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for paving. This work is part of the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Project.

Traffic will be detoured farther west to Route 608 (West Ox Road) South, stay to the right for Route 50 East, then follow signs to I-66 West.

Construction Update (Updated Feb. 23, 2021)

More than 100 beams are being placed for the new Route 50 bridges over I-66. (Feb. 10)

A crane lifts a beam into place over I-66 West at the Route 50 Interchange. (Feb. 10)

Beams for the new Route 50 East bridge are visible in the center of the photo between the current Route 50 bridges. (Feb. 17)

What Neighbors Can Expect

Noisy construction activities such as bridge demolition and pile driving will be avoided at night, when possible. Noise to expect at night includes back-up alarms on equipment and trucks, which is necessary to protect worker safety
Lighting of the construction work area will be directed to minimize light pollution for nearby residents
Project emails and website will be used to communicate major traffic switches or nighttime work

What Drivers Can Expect

Drivers should expect traffic shifts and temporary ramp closures as work progresses at the interchange. Sign up for project email updates to keep up to date.

Random Hills Park

Utility relocation near the Route 50 Interchange will require a 0.01-acre permanent utility easement on Random Hills Park. As required by federal regulation, VDOT is accepting public comment regarding the Fairfax County Park Authority’s preliminary concurrence with the Federal Highway Administration’s Section 4(f) applicability criteria for de minimus impact for this easement.

View the public notice and additional information using these links.

Timeline

Anticipated Schedule	Dates
Ramp and bridge work begins	Fall 2019
Various traffic shifts and temporary ramp closures for construction and demolition	2019 through 2022
New bridges open to traffic	2021
Demolition of old bridges	2021
Express lanes open	December 2022

Resources

Random Hills Park – Public Notice

Random Hills Park - Preliminary Concurrence for de minimis Impact

Random Hills Park Utility Relocation Alternatives Assessment

Exhibit 1 - Random Hills Park Utility Reloc Exhibit 1

About the Project

Route 50 Interchange