Interstate 395 (Virginia–District of Columbia)

Interstate 395 (Virginia–District of Columbia)
State	VA/DC
Route	395
Length mi	13.29
Established	1977
Direction a	South
Terminus a	Richmond
Direction b	North
Terminus b	Washington, D.C.
Counties	Arlington County, Fairfax County, Alexandria

Interstate 395 (Virginia–District of Columbia) is an auxiliary Interstate Highway serving the Washington metropolitan area by connecting suburban Alexandria and Arlington County to central Washington, D.C.. The route functions as a spur of Interstate 95 and provides access to major federal institutions including the United States Capitol, the White House, and the National Mall, while linking to regional arteries such as U.S. Route 1 and Interstate 66. I-395 parallels the Potomac River for part of its length and forms a critical corridor for commuters, freight, and visitors to landmarks like the Smithsonian Institution and the Pentagon.

Route description

Interstate 395 begins near the Highway interchange with I-95 and I-495 in Alexandria, proceeds north through Fairfax County and Arlington County, and crosses into Washington, D.C. via the 3rd Street Tunnel. The corridor serves neighborhoods and districts including Crystal City, Pentagon City, Rosslyn, and the Northwest Quadrant, intersecting with arterials such as U.S. Route 50, U.S. Route 29, and SR 244. I-395 provides direct access to facilities including the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, the Pentagon, and Arlington National Cemetery, and connects with transit hubs for Washington Metro lines like the Blue Line and Yellow Line. The roadway alternates between elevated viaducts near Rosslyn and depressed trenches approaching the Capitol Hill area, featuring reversible HOV lanes and collector–distributor systems near interchanges with I-695 and US 1 Alternate.

History

Planning for the spur originated during the expansion of the Interstate Highway System and coordination with the National Capital Planning Commission and the District of Columbia Department of Transportation. Early proposals linked to the design studies of I-95 through the District of Columbia and the cancellation of the Inner Loop (Washington, D.C.) prompted rerouting that produced the present I-395 alignment. Construction phases in the 1960s and 1970s intersected with high-profile projects such as the development of Crystal City and the Pentagon Memorial, while litigation and community opposition echoed cases like the protests against the Inner Loop Freeway and involvement by organizations including the League of Women Voters of Arlington and the American Civil Liberties Union. Notable infrastructure milestones included the completion of the I-395 segment near Rosslyn and the opening of the 3rd Street Tunnel approach, enabling improved access to federal complexes like the Department of Defense headquarters and cultural institutions including the National Archives.

Future and planned improvements

Planned improvements have involved multi-agency coordination among Virginia Department of Transportation, the District Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. Projects include reconstruction of interchanges adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery, expansion of HOV and express lanes akin to programs implemented on I-66 and Interstate 95 Express Lanes, and multimodal enhancements linking to Washington Metro stations such as Arlington Cemetery and Pentagon City. Proposals reference grant programs from the U.S. Department of Transportation and planning studies influenced by climate adaptation frameworks from the National Capital Planning Commission and regional plans by the Transportation Planning Board. Future work may coordinate with development initiatives at National Landing, preservation efforts at Arlington National Cemetery, and traffic demand models used by the Virginia Department of Transportation Traffic Forecasting Division.

Exit list

The exit list for I-395 includes connections to primary routes serving the metropolitan core, with interchanges for US 1, US 50, and access to I-695 and surface streets leading to landmarks like L'Enfant Plaza, Independence Avenue, and the Smithsonian Institution Building. Key exits provide access to VA 110 near the Pentagon, SR 27 toward the Mall, and local connectors to neighborhoods including Columbia Pike and Arlington Ridge. Collector–distributor roads separate destinations such as Crystal Drive and Jefferson Davis Highway to manage weaving with traffic heading to federal destinations like the Department of Justice and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Traffic and tolling

Traffic volumes on I-395 reflect commuter flows to employment centers like Downtown Washington, federal agencies including the Department of State, and military installations such as the Pentagon. Peak-period demand has led to the implementation of HOV restrictions similar to those on I-66 and dynamic pricing policies used on I-95 Express Lanes, with surveillance and incident response coordinated by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority and the District Department of Transportation. Tolling discussions have referenced congestion pricing studies by the Transportation Research Board and funding mechanisms used on projects supported by the Federal Transit Administration and the Virginia Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment.

Auxiliary routes and connections

I-395 interfaces with auxiliary routes including I-695 and spur connections to US 1 Alternate. It links to regional express corridors such as Interstate 66, I-95/I-495 and municipal thoroughfares like US 50. Transit intermodal connections include Washington Union Station, the Pentagon Transit Center, and shuttle services coordinated with institutions including the Smithsonian Institution and the National Park Service. The corridor supports freight access to distribution facilities in Alexandria, coordination with Port of Washington logistics planning, and emergency response routing used by agencies like the United States Secret Service and the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department.

Category:Interstate Highways in Virginia Category:Interstate Highways in Washington, D.C.