Avoid the Wilson Bridge this weekend

"We'd like to have eight out of 10 normal weekend vehicles divert away from the Wilson Bridge," says John Undeland, Wilson Bridge Project spokesman.

Undeland's advice as the Inner Loop narrows to one lane and several ramps close: Take the Beltway through Montgomery County or travel through Washington on Interstate 395.

Crews plan to pave and stripe connections from the highway to the new span.

Similar work in 2006 resulted in 90-minute delays, but only after an intensive campaign to make people aware of the work.

The work starts Friday night and should be done by noon Sunday, although everything is weather-dependent. Should there be heavy rain, the work will be done the following weekend.

Here what the Wilson Bridge Project says will be done:

Starting at 9 p.m. on Friday, May 30:

Maryland:

• I-95/I-495 South/Inner Loop will be reduced to one lane.
• The ramp from I-295 to the Inner Loop will be closed and traffic detoured.
• The ramp from the Inner Loop to National Harbor and from National Harbor to the Beltway will be will be closed. Traffic will be detoured on to Md. 210.
• Inner Loop ramps to northbound and southbound Route 1 will be closed. Traffic will be detoured to the Telegraph Road Interchange.

Evening, Saturday, May 31:

Maryland:

• Traffic will be temporarily stopped fir about 15 minutes to open one lane across new bridge.
• Ramps to and from the Inner Loop to National Harbor will reopen.

Virginia:

• Ramps from the Inner Loop to Route 1 and the Church Street exit will reopen.

By noon, Sunday, June 1:

Maryland:

• Maryland, the ramp from I-295 to the Inner Loop will reopen.

For information on the bridge, you can call 1-877-463-6992 or WTOP Traffic at 202-895-4047.

By the end of 2008, five lanes on each span of the bridge will open.

(Copyright 2008 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)