Some I95/495 info for Va

Probably a little late since it's been going on for sometime now but I figured I toss it out there if anyone was interested since it's such a heavy truck route..

Avoid the inner 495 (west side of the beltway) at all costs. Nightly lane closures at Braddock Rd (MM 54) bring it to a standstill and even with all lanes open it's terrible for about 14 miles because of narrow lanes and hard lane shifts. If you're planning on using I270 to I495 South either use I81 - I66 - US17 or run I70 in Md to US29 to Md100 and pick up I95 in Jessup, Md so you can take the outer loop.. If you're coming down from I83 or I95 just stay on the outer loop even though it has more traffic and is a little further mileage wise..

Once you're down in Va on I95 you can use the HOV lanes if the signs say open to all traffic - this keeps you away from the lane closures at night around Woodbridge, Va - 161-163'ish MM.. Just watch the signs that say all trucks must exit - Dale City exit..

There has been a ton of night paving and bridge work from the 133 which is the Fredericksburg US17 exit all the way down through the city of Richmond. Route 1 is your friend. It sucks North of the 133 but is alright from the 133 to the 126 and is great after that.. Don't be afraid to get off at the 126, 118, 110, 104, 98, 92, or 86 to use 1 - it's good running..

There has also been a lot of time consuming night road work in the city of Richmond, Va.. If the city is jammed up and you're using I95 to I85 or visa versa, there is a nice cut across to I295 which is smooth sailing even with lane closures.. Use Va Route 10 - it's exit 61 on I95 and exit 15 on I295. 4 miles across with 4 lights and some nice stops over on the 295 end - just go East from 95 and West from 295.. It can save you a TON of time if there are multiple lane closures which has been nightly for the last few weeks..

Sorry for the book..haha.. If you're not real familiar with the area just check it out on a map and you'll see all the routes I'm talking about..

Safe efficient trucking to all..haha.. Any questions about the region PM me and I'll do my best since I know it pretty well...

 

If you're coming from I81 South of Harrisburg it's 13 more miles running 81-66-17 instead of 70-270-495 but much less stressful.. I've run it both ways on Hagerstown via's to Richmond and it is indeed 13 more miles which is the difference in our paid miles which is almost always accurate to the mile..

 

Oh yeah, no doubt.. Been a while since I've been that way but from up there that's the only way to go..

 

Guess I'll try to keep this updated the best I can on all aspects of the routs I generally run.. I run a lot of via's (going to other terminals on the way to or home from my normal run) so I cover a big old Mid-Atlantic area..

I81 had a sink hole in the left lane last Friday night in WV around the 6'ish heading South..hahaha.. That inspired confidence for me when I ran over it last night grossing 78K right.. They say it's fixed and all lanes are normal..

I66 in Va has some paving that's not done yet and the shoulder is about 4 inches low right now - caused a truck accident in all that rain the other day..

Some night paving on 17 in Fredericksburg but not a big deal..

The inner 495 will be bad for a long time - avoid it..

Still lane closures at night around Woodbridge - use those HOV lanes if the signs say open to all traffic.. It was moving alright in the locals all week but I saved a few minutes every night in the HOV's..

Night paving on 95 seems to be done between Quantico and Richmond but always keep route 1 in mind if you hear of any 95 issues below the 133..

95 through Richmond blows..haha.. The other night the Southbound had no lane closures but the lanes were marked uneven and flooding because of the rain - must have been a 4 inch drop with 4 inches of water.. Use 295.. Like I said, if you need 85 just use Va 10 to cut across.. You'll add 11 total miles doing so but it's worth every mile.. Also the lane closures on 295 at the James River Bridge heading South are down to only the right lane and end before exit 15 which is Va 10..

If I run into anything exciting between Harrisburg, Richmond, and all via points in between I'll post it..haha..

This was the big excitement of the year for me - personally closing down I95 after I got stuck on a hill during the snowpacolypse or snowmageddon.. The Va State Police blocked the road while a VDOT loader pulled me up the hill..lol.. I had 18K for a lead and 17K on the back - terrible for drive traction..lol.. I felt special..haha..