Changes are coming to the High Occupancy Toll lanes on Interstates 95 and 395.
Starting tomorrow, the HOV lanes will return to their standard operating schedule, which allows all southbound drivers to use the lanes between 6 and 9 p.m. The lanes will reopen at 11 p.m. in the northbound direction for those headed to Washington.
Since early August, the lanes were open to all traffic until midnight, Monday through Thursday. The change was prompted by increased summertime traffic and lane closures associated with the I-95 Fourth Lane Widening Project.
"Returning to standard HOV schedule will continue to help alleviate delays, as the con-struction requires overnight lane closures on northbound I-95 in coming weeks," stated Virginia Department of Transportation spokeswoman Jennifer McCord in a press release.
VDOT officials announced last week they will close the interstate between Occoquan and Fairfax County Parkway in separate intervals Sept. 21 and 22.
Crews will replace overhead signs along the roadway as part of the fourth lane widening project, said VDOT Project Manager Charlie Warraich.
The first closure will be about 10:30 p.m. Sept. 21, with more following at 1 and 2 a.m. The clo-sures are scheduled about the same time the following day.
Project officials will post signs for drivers who want to detour around the closures. Those drivers are being urged to use U.S. 1 north to get around the construction.
Truck drivers will not be able to exit I-95 onto U.S. 1 at mile post 161 due to a low-hanging rail bridge. Truckers will be urged to exit the interstate south of Fredericksburg and use U.S. 301 to take them across the Potomac River.
From there drivers will be able to access the Capital Beltway to continue their trips.
The I-95 fourth lane project will add an additional lane to both sides of the highway between Fair-fax County Parkway to Occoquan. The final phase of the project is expected to be completed in 2011.
Staff writer Uriah A. Kiser can be reached at 703-878-8065.
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