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Ramp near FedEx Field to open full-time in ’09
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(Greg Whitesell/Examiner)
The Beltway interchange will permanently open to traffic in 2009 to offer additional road capacity to the growing region. The Arena Drive-Capital Beltway interchange will permanently open to traffic in 2009, offering additional road capacity to a growing region, Maryland transportation officials said Wednesday. Built in 1997, the interchange opens only during events at FedEx Field. Prince George’s County residents have long sought to have the interchange open at all times because of the improved access it provides to Largo and Landover. The State Highway Administration, however, had repeatedly rejected the requests because of safety concerns. Increased development and higher traffic counts caused the highway agency to schedule a series of improvements so the interchange can handle a daily load of vehicles. According to the SHA, 223,000 vehicles will travel daily along the Capital Beltway near Arena Drive by 2030, compared with 194,000 now. The area has experienced booming growth in recent years, including the Redskins’ stadium, residential units and the opening of a large shopping mall where the Capitol Centre used to stand. "I am ecstatic that after years of hard work, SHA is moving forward to open the Arena Drive ramps," said U.S. Rep. Al Wynn, D-Md., who represents the area. The $30.4 million project to improve the interchange is expected to finish in spring 2009. The interchange will open soon after that. The project includes widening nearly 3 miles of the Beltway near the near interchange and modifying nearby Beltway interchanges at Central Avenue and Landover Road. The widening will create three lanes for traffic driving past the interchange and two lanes for vehicles merging into the interchange. The Beltway will also be repaved between Landover Road and Arena Drive. Preliminary work will begins next week, which could cause some lane closures at night. As the construction progresses, lanes will closed on the Beltway, Arena Drive, Central Avenue and Landover Road during non-rush hour times. No lanes will closed on holidays and during Redskins games and other events at FedEx Field. jrogalsky@dcexaminer.com |
