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Interstate 95/495 outer loop - Springfield to Wilson Bridge
Interstate 95 reaches the Springfield Interchange in Springfield, Virginia at exit 170, where it meets two of its children, Interstates 395 and 495 (Capital Beltway). Traffic bound for I-395 north and the inner loop of I-495 exit at right, while to the left, a flyover ramp takes northbound traffic on I-95 onto the outer loop of the Beltway for an approximately 35-mile overlap with I-495. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
This flyover was constructed as part of an extensive multi-year project to revamp what is nicknamed the Mixing Bowl from 1999 all the way until 2007. Previous movements at this interchange were tighter and confined to a smaller area, requiring quick and sometimes risky manuevers. Another flyover at left carries southbound I-95 traffic off the inner loop of the Beltway. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
After the end of the ramp viaduct, the carriageway S-curves and then pulls up to the outer loop on its left. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
In 1¼ miles, exit 173 will intersect Van Dorn Street (SR 613) leading to Franconia. This is one of three exits serving Alexandria, the last city northbound on I-95 in Virginia. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
Three lanes of I-95 now prepare to merge with four of I-495, though the far left lane will end momentarily. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
Exit 173 leads to the Van Dorn station of the Washington Metro's Blue Line. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
After the Beltway crosses the Blue Line, the far-right lane ends, further dropping the outer loop to five lanes. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
Before exit 173, Alexandria's Great Waves Waterpark is billed to exit 174. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
Next to the overhead exit sign for exit 173, the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, which is a drawbridge, is announced as being 5½ miles away. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
Exit 173 actually leads to a connector road linking the Beltway with Van Dorn. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
Exit 174 with the Eisenhower Avenue Connector is 1¼ miles away. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
In two miles, the outer loop will split into "thru" and "local" lanes, respectively marked toward Baltimore and Alexandria. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
The thru exits are all in Maryland: MD 210 (Indian Head Highway), MD 414 (St. Barnabas Road) and MD 5 (Branch Avenue), the last of which is more than 11 miles away. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
The Interstate reaches exit 174 to the right. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
The lane split is now a mile away. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
The highway then goes over the Eisenhower Avenue Connector. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
Of the three local exits, two (VA 241 and US 1) are I-95's last two exits in Virginia and the third, I-295/National Harbor, is the first in Maryland. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
The lane split lies straight ahead. For all of the advance signage, drivers changing between the local and thru lanes at the very last second is still a regular sight at the split. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
Signage promptly appears above the local lanes for exit 176, which intersects the Alexandria city streets of Telegraph Road (VA 241) and Kings Highway. Exit 176B also contains a ramp that leads straight to Eisenhower Avenue beside Hoffman Town Center. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
Exit 176A meanwhile can be used to Huntington Avenue. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
A concrete barrier separates the thru lanes from the local exit 176. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
Passed over next is Potomac tributary Cameron Run. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
The next bridge is over VA 241 and is thus part of exit 176. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
In one mile, the local lanes will meet US 1 (Richmond Highway), with control cities of Alexandria and Fort Belvoir, at exit 177. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
The Beltway's northbound offramp to Eisenhower Avenue flies overhead here. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
Then, Metro's Yellow Line passes overhead beside the Eisenhower Avenue station. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
At right, exit 177A serves Old Town Alexandria and Mount Vernon. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
The Wilson Bridge now lies a mile away. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
At right sits part of a long ramp from southbound US 1 to the outer loop of the Beltway that also receives a separate ramp from Mill Lane. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
Ahead, US 1 passes over the Interstate before making its way into Old Town Alexandria. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
The highway receives traffic from US 1 south beneath the ramp from US 1 north to the inner loop. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
Washington Street passes overhead at the west end of the bridge. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
The beginning of the bridge is marked with a stone Woodrow Wilson monument in the median. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
Of the first two Maryland exits, exit 2 (I-295) is accessed from the local lanes, after which they end, and exit 3 (MD 210) from the thru lanes. Photo taken 04-29-2025.
