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Springfield Interchange
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Springfield Interchange
The Springfield Interchange, also known as the Mixing Bowl, is the interchange of I-95, I-395, and the Capital Beltway I-495 in Springfield, Virginia, outside of Washington, D.C. The interchange is located at exit 57 on the Capital Beltway, exit 170 on I-95, and exit 1 on I-395.
Some people, including many Washington-area media sources, refer to this interchange as the "Mixing Bowl" because, prior to the reconstruction, local and long-distance travelers shared the same lanes and travelers had to merge to the right or left to reach the correct lanes for their destination. The last of this weaving and merging was eliminated on April 21, 2007.
The interchange was originally built completed in 1964 as a simple interchange between I-95 and the Capital Beltway.
In 1966, only two years after completion, work to adjust the ramps onto the Shirley Highway began. It was completed in 1968.
After community opposition prevented its construction through the city, a project began in 1974 to reconstruct the interchange. It involved replacing the semi-directional ramp from I-95 northbound to I-495 westbound with the large 2-lane 35-mph loop ramp. This was completed in 1977, at this point I-95 was shifted to the eastern portion of the Beltway, between Springfield and College Park, eliminating the I-495 designation there. Because of this route change, all traffic continuing on I-95 through the Washington area was exiting at Springfield through an interchange not designed for that purpose.
In 1989, the I-495 designation was restored.
By early 1970, there were 150,000 vehicles per day traveling through the intersection. Thirty years later, that number had more than doubled, with the effect that vehicles "traveling along the East Coast's main north–south artery [had to] be funneled through the ordinary exit ramps at Springfield, routinely causing backups several miles long." A study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration determined the interchange to be the site of 179 crashes between 1993 and 1994 more than any other spot on I-95 and found that the number of ramp accidents was more than double that of any other Beltway interchange. In March 1999, the Virginia Department of Transportation began an eight-year, seven-phase reconstruction project, which also involved the reconstruction of the I-95/Route 644 interchange. The project was one of the largest highway construction projects in the U.S., costing $676 million.
Completed 1999
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Springfield Interchange
The Springfield Interchange, also known as the Mixing Bowl, is the interchange of I-95, I-395, and the Capital Beltway I-495 in Springfield, Virginia, outside of Washington, D.C. The interchange is located at exit 57 on the Capital Beltway, exit 170 on I-95, and exit 1 on I-395.
Some people, including many Washington-area media sources, refer to this interchange as the "Mixing Bowl" because, prior to the reconstruction, local and long-distance travelers shared the same lanes and travelers had to merge to the right or left to reach the correct lanes for their destination. The last of this weaving and merging was eliminated on April 21, 2007.
The interchange was originally built completed in 1964 as a simple interchange between I-95 and the Capital Beltway.
In 1966, only two years after completion, work to adjust the ramps onto the Shirley Highway began. It was completed in 1968.
After community opposition prevented its construction through the city, a project began in 1974 to reconstruct the interchange. It involved replacing the semi-directional ramp from I-95 northbound to I-495 westbound with the large 2-lane 35-mph loop ramp. This was completed in 1977, at this point I-95 was shifted to the eastern portion of the Beltway, between Springfield and College Park, eliminating the I-495 designation there. Because of this route change, all traffic continuing on I-95 through the Washington area was exiting at Springfield through an interchange not designed for that purpose.
In 1989, the I-495 designation was restored.
By early 1970, there were 150,000 vehicles per day traveling through the intersection. Thirty years later, that number had more than doubled, with the effect that vehicles "traveling along the East Coast's main north–south artery [had to] be funneled through the ordinary exit ramps at Springfield, routinely causing backups several miles long." A study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration determined the interchange to be the site of 179 crashes between 1993 and 1994 more than any other spot on I-95 and found that the number of ramp accidents was more than double that of any other Beltway interchange. In March 1999, the Virginia Department of Transportation began an eight-year, seven-phase reconstruction project, which also involved the reconstruction of the I-95/Route 644 interchange. The project was one of the largest highway construction projects in the U.S., costing $676 million.
Completed 1999
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