Nutley Street (Route 243) Interchange

Major redesign and construction are planned for the Nutley Street Interchange as part of the Transform 66 Project. The new interchange will:

Provide safer, more efficient travel for vehicles entering and exiting I-66 East and West
Improve safety for vehicles and pedestrians traveling on Nutley Street
Connect the new grade-separated shared-use path with planned bicycle and pedestrian improvements around the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metrorail station and a shared-use path being built into the Town of Vienna

A new design alternative – a double roundabout – will be constructed at this interchange as an alternative to the diverging diamond interchange (DDI) included in the initial project design. The project team held a community meeting in Vienna in June 2019 to discuss and get feedback on the design change, which will improve safety and traffic flow on Nutley Street while reducing construction impacts for drivers and project neighbors compared to the DDI design. Learn more about this design change by viewing the meeting handout, presentation, and display boards.

Express Lanes access to and from the west will be available at new ramps that will be constructed at Vaden Drive, just west of the Metrorail station.

New, Temporary Ramp from I-66 West to Nutley Street North and South Now Open

Drivers exiting I-66 West to Nutley Street North and South began using a new, temporary ramp Wednesday, February 17. All traffic heading to Nutley Street will now use the same ramp for northbound and southbound travel. Drivers heading to southbound Nutley Street will use a temporary traffic signal to turn left onto Nutley Street South. The old I-66 West to Nutley Street North ramp has been closed and replaced with a new ramp located slightly after (west of) the current exit.

Drivers will access northbound Nutley Street by using the new exit ramp, then staying to the right.
Drivers will access southbound Nutley Street by using the new ramp, staying to the left, then turning left at a temporary traffic signal.

Recent Traffic Pattern Changes

The I-66 East to Nutley Street North loop ramp closed in November 2020.

Drivers access Nutley Street North by taking the current exit from I-66 East to Nutley Street South, stay to the left to use a new temporary ramp, then turn left at a temporary traffic signal on to northbound Nutley Street.
Access from I-66 East to southbound Nutley Street and Saintsbury Drive/Vienna Metrorail Station remains unchanged.
Drivers traveling on Nutley Street should remain alert for changes in signal timing to allow traffic to turn onto Nutley Street North.

Learn more >

Summer-Fall 2020 Traffic Pattern Changes

The loop ramp from northbound Nutley Street to I-66 West closed in July 2020.

Drivers will now access I-66 West by turning left at a temporary traffic signal onto a new temporary ramp that merges with the existing ramp from southbound Nutley Street to I-66 West.

Learn more >

The existing loop ramp from westbound I-66 to southbound Nutley Street closed in July 2020.

Traffic is now directed to a new, temporary ramp. Drivers exiting I-66 West heading to both northbound and southbound Nutley Street will use the same ramp located slightly west of the old I-66 West to Nutley Street North ramp. Southbound traffic will stay to the left and then turn left at a temporary signal.

Learn more >

The loop ramp from southbound Nutley Street to I-66 East closed in June 2020.

Drivers now access I-66 East by turning left at a temporary traffic signal onto a new ramp that merges with the existing ramp from northbound Nutley Street to I-66 East.

Learn more >

Construction Update (Updated April 6, 2021)

All four loop ramps at the Nutley Street Interchange have been replaced by temporary ramps to allow construction of the new double roundabout. Stormwater basins are being built inside the interchange. (April 20)

What Neighbors Can Expect

Clearing has occurred around the interchange and along portions of I-66
Construction activities began in 2020
Project emails and website will be used to communicate major traffic switches or nighttime work

What Drivers Can Expect

Travel lanes on I-66 have been shifted to allow paving and other work along the shoulders.
Traffic shifts, ramp closures, utility relocation, and other changes began on Nutley Street in 2020. More substantial work will begin at the interchange in 2021 following construction of all temporary ramps. Sign up for project email updates to keep up to date
Drivers should slow down, stay focused, and be alert for new traffic patterns and construction crews.

Timeline

Anticipated Schedule	Dates
Clearing activities begin	Spring 2019
Traffic shifts on I-66 near Nutley Street	Summer 2019
Traffic shifts on Nutley Street and ramps	June 2020 to February 2021
Express Lanes open	December 2022