The National Park Service will close all southbound George Washington Memorial Parkway lanes in segments Monday, Oct. 5 through Thursday, Oct. 8, for roadside maintenance.
The closures run four days next week, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day, according to an NPS press release issued Friday, Oct. 2. Northbound lanes will stay open throughout.
The work is split into two segments:
- Tulane Drive to Morningside Lane: Monday, Oct. 5 and Tuesday, Oct. 6, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Morningside Lane to Alexandria Avenue: Wednesday, Oct. 7 and Thursday, Oct. 8, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
During each closure, all southbound traffic must exit the parkway and follow posted detour signs onto Fort Hunt Road before reconnecting past the work zone.
NPS said the closures give crews room to trim vegetation, improve sight lines and clean the roadside corridor. The agency said controlled work zones help reduce conflicts between maintenance operations and drivers. Work zones may include crews, vehicles and equipment on the roadway.
The schedule is weather-dependent and could shift.
What McLean drivers should know
The closures fall outside rush hour, but midday southbound trips through the affected corridor will require the Fort Hunt Road detour. NPS advised drivers to allow extra travel time and consider alternate routes, though the agency did not name specific alternatives.
McLean residents heading south on the parkway toward Alexandria or Mount Vernon during those hours will feel the impact most directly.
Drivers should slow down near work zones and follow posted signs and directions from on-site workers. For questions about the closures, NPS lists [email protected] as its media contact.
