Nutley Street (Route 243) Interchange

Major redesign and construction are planned for the Nutley Street Interchange as part of the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway 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 – is being 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 are available at new ramps at Vaden Drive, just west of the Metrorail station.

66 Express Lanes Access at Nutley Street

There is no direct access to or from the 66 Express Lanes at Nutley Street, but a new flyover ramp located between Cedar Lane and Gallows Road provides access from the eastbound I-66 general-purpose lanes. The ramp is on the right side of I-66 East and will give drivers access to the eastbound 66 Express Lanes and the 495 North and South Express Lanes.

Express Lanes Access east of Nutley Street

Permanent Loop Ramp Open at Nutley Street/I-66 Interchange

Ramp from Nutley Street South to I-66 East

The loop ramp from Nutley Street South to I-66 East is open on the right side of the roadway near the location of the previous loop ramp, which was closed in June 2020.
Drivers on Nutley Street South will no longer be able to make a left turn at the temporary traffic signal to reach I-66 East.

Ramp from Nutley Street South to I-66 East

Traffic Pattern Change to be Implemented on Nutley Street at I-66 Interchange in Early 2023

The first of two roundabouts on Nutley Street at I-66 is planned to open to traffic as part of the redesigned I-66/Nutley Street Interchange in early 2023. Drivers traveling to northbound Nutley Street from I-66 East will enter and proceed around the roundabout to go north on Nutley Street. Drivers traveling northbound and southbound on Nutley Street will use the roundabout to continue on Nutley Street. This traffic pattern change will allow for the removal of the temporary traffic signal control at the intersection of Nutley Street and the ramp from eastbound I-66. A second roundabout, on the north side of I-66, is anticipated to open to traffic soon after the opening of the first.

What drivers should expect when the first of two roundabouts open:

Drivers traveling from I-66 East to northbound Nutley Street will take Exit 62 to Nutley Street North, enter the roundabout, and stay to the left to continue to Nutley Street North.
Drivers on northbound and southbound Nutley Street continuing across I-66 will enter the roundabout south of I-66 and stay to the right to continue northbound or southbound on Nutley Street.
Drivers on Nutley Street North traveling to I-66 West will enter the roundabout south of I-66, stay to the right and continue north on Nutley Street over I-66, and then stay to the right to exit to I-66 West. A “bypass lane” will open later in the project to provide direct access for this traffic movement without using the roundabout.

There is no change at this time for travel from I-66 East to Nutley Street South; from Nutley Street North to I-66 East; or from Nutley Street South to I-66 East or West.

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

Drivers should be alert for changing traffic patterns on Nutley Street near I-66 as construction continues. Drivers are reminded to slow down and pay attention to lane markings and roadway signs. 

Temporary Traffic Pattern Changes from I-66 East and West to Nutley Street Still in Effect

Drivers exiting I-66 West to Nutley Street North and South will continue using a temporary ramp which opened in February 2021. (The old loop ramp from I-66 West to southbound Nutley Street closed in July 2020.). All traffic heading to Nutley Street will 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 access northbound Nutley Street by using the new exit ramp, then staying to the right.

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

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 temporary ramp, then turn left at a temporary traffic signal onto 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 >

Construction Update (Updated January 20, 2023)

Recent Construction Progress:

The ramp from Nutley Street South to I-66 West reopened on the right side of the roadway November 18
Travel lanes of Nutley Street North and South over I-66 were shifted to the west side of the bridge on May 18
Permanent loop ramp from Nutley Street South to I-66 East is open
Temporary traffic signals are in place for traffic from I-66 West to Nutley Street South, and from I-66 East to Nutley Street North

Upcoming Construction Activities:

Additional traffic shifts on Nutley Street will occur during 2023 to support construction activities

Aerial view of the Nutley Road area
Aerial view of the Nutley Street area. (December 20, 2022)

Work on the new Gallows Road bridge. (December 5, 2022)

Shared Use Path in the Nutley Street area. (December 5, 2022)

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 began 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 opened	November 2022