By Lillian Kafka

Published: May 8, 2008

Preparations for opening the second span of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge will close multiple lanes of Interstate 95 this weekend.

Drivers are asked to avoid the outer loop of the Capital Beltway in Alexandria, where the highway will nearly be shut down for the weekend. Detours will lead most traffic around the other side of the Beltway.

Construction is expected to be completed by 5 a.m. Monday.

Closures begin at 9 p.m. Friday near Eisenhower Avenue on I-95 in Alexandria.

Two right lanes between exits 170 and 174 will be closed for paving and striping. The ramp from the Springfield Interchange toward the Woodrow Wilson Bridge will also be closed at that time.

Northbound traffic will be detoured to the inner loop of the Beltway toward the American Legion Bridge.

HOV lanes along I-95 and Interstate 395 will remain in the northbound direction all weekend.

Outer loop traffic will be stopped for 30 minutes on Saturday between noon and 2 p.m. as crews open the right lanes and close the left lane to finish paving and striping.

Ramps to and from U.S. 1 to I-95 in Alexandria will be closed from 9 p.m. Friday to 1 p.m. Saturday. Ramps from Telegraph Road to I-95 will also be closed during that time.

The work is scheduled in anticipation of a ceremony next week to open the second span of the $2.4 billion bridge widening project. Governors from Maryland and Virginia are expected to attend the opening ceremony on May 15.

Each span of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge will have extra lanes for future use by transit or other purposes, said Mike Salmon, spokesman for the Virginia Department of Transportation. He said the bridge will have barrier-separated lanes for local and through traffic.

The project will see a final completion date at the end of this year, he said.

Staff writer Lillian Kafka can be reached at 703-878-8065.