We are beginning our winter treks to Richmond to spend time with our grandchildren.

We haven't driven south since June, and I wondered if there are any current special construction/congestion issues. Regular construction and congestion are a given.

Route will be Boston-Hartford-Tappan Zee (Masspike-I 84) GSP-NJT- Delaware Memorial Bridge I-95 to Baltimore, where I usually take 895 to Baltimore Washington Parkway (no trucks) to I-95 at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, then I-95 to Richmond.

There was horrible construction in Delaware all last winter and spring and it continued to be a mess on I-495 east of Washington. Any improvement or deterioration?

Thanks in advance!

No current info but wanted to commend you on your choice of route thru MA/CT/NJ - that is my favorite route as well, although most mapping programs and GPS devices try to send you over the George Washington Bridge.

Have a safe trip.

This site will link you to closures and state dot sites along your route www.fhwa.dot.gov/Trafficinfo/


Have a safe trip.

I drove down to DC on Friday, 10/30 left at 7am) and made the return trip on Sunday, 11/1.

I took 95S from Boston, then the NJ turnpike, then back to 95S through MD into DC. We had absolutely no trouble, aside from about a 15 or 20 minute slowdown around the George Washington Bridge. On the way home we did hit more traffic in that area at about 5pm (the NYC marathon was happening).

I know this is not your planned route, but thought it might be helpful.

Not sure what you mean by "regular construction" but south of DC on I-95 there is ongoing daytime road widening south of Springfield to about Occoquan. I've driven it 3 times in the last 3 weeks and found it mildly annoying on one occasion and mind numbingly slow the other two times.

I will do anything to avoid going the I-95 corridor between Maryland and Richmond, especially the stretch from the Potomac (Wilson) Bridge to Occoguan/Fredericksburg. I usually take the I-97 to 301 through lower Maryland across to Ft. AP Hill in Va. and rejoining I-95 via 207.

Thanks, everyone!

Yes, obxgirl, the stretch south of Wilson Bridge is exactly what I mean by "normal" congestion. It was grim, especially southbound last spring. "Abnormal" construction would be something like emergency bridge repairs. And then there will be "Black Friday" at Potomac Mills, but I won't drive that day!

Cyanna, I haven't taken 301 for two years since I ran into so many traffic lights north of the Potomac -- sort of like Rout 1 in Mass. but I will think hard about it.

Ackislander - it's a calculated risk, plus a matter of whether you'd rather creep at 20 MPH but have no lights (just accordion stop-and-go) or average closer to 40 for a while but then deal with some lights, and then have it open up to 50-60.

Even with the lights on 301, if you're traveling at certain times, you still do better than I-95 AND with less road-rage-inducing creep-crawl crap (summer Friday and Sunday afternoons, in particular). I particularly enjoy getting past Waldorf, where it begins to thin out and then through La Plata, after which it's smooth sailing in fairly pretty country, esp. once you are in Ft. Hill area (just don't get out of the car near the shooting ranges). There's something about crossing the "Nice" bridge knowing some people may still be stuck bumper-to-bumper trying to get through Occoquan.

But yes, there are times when I-95 behaves well and, assuming no traffic on either road, you can lose 20-30 min. if you go 301. But there's almost never no traffic, right?

And know exactly what you mean about Rte. 1 - if you mean north of Boston. Had my senior prom dinner at, was it, Kon Tiki Ports there? Just after the meteorite took the dinosaurs out.....

Follow Up

Well, I wish I had followed Cyanna's advice. I had an incredibly easy trip until Springfield, Va. Then a 40 mile backup on I-95, all the way to Fredericksburg. I should have been in by 5:25 and arrived at 6:45.

Truck free travel(some new for me):

Took the Wilbur Cross and Merritt Parkway from Meriden, CT to White Plains.

Garden State Parkway from NY state line to Woodbridge, then car only portion of NJT to South Brunswick or so.

MD 295 from downtown Baltimore just after the tunnel all the way to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge on I-495. Wonderful, truck free route, very little southbound traffic in midafternoon BUT no toilets from Maryland House rest area north of Balto all the way to Fredericksburg, VA. Not even a handy fast food or gas station until VA, then traffic is so heavy that there is no easy on/off.

Thanks, everyone!

Don't kick yourself - we have taken both routes and it has all about averaged out in annoyance and traffic - on any given day one will be better and one worse.

Your lack of bathroom comments made me laugh with memories - DD and I were driving to NC along that route and ended up in traffic, in need of a bathroom and a break from each other. Ended up at the creepiest gas station and worse bathroom somewhere in Virginia. It gets worse south of Richmond, though.

>>Ended up at the creepiest gas station and worse bathroom somewhere in Virginia. It gets worse south of Richmond, though.

Sorry, you got caught on I-95. Been there myself. You took a slight risk and "all" it cost you was about 1 1/2 hrs. It could have been much worse, believe me. Live and learn, etc.

It all depends on whether you are, at heart, a gambling hare or a take-it-safe tortoise. I've flown through the I-95 route (usually extremely early in the morning or late at night) and been caught in major jam, but I've never run into major jam-ups on the alternate route. It may have everything to do with WHEN we have to travel between Richmond and Bal'mer, but it's axiomatic that you'll run into trouble after 3 pm most days, and it'll be huge trouble in the summer on weekends.

MD 295 to locals is the Baltimore-Washington Parkway until it joins the Beltway. Note "parkway" - it was originally designed not to have commercial traffic or commercial facilities so as to be a scenic connection between Balt. and Wash. It's nice not to have trucks, but sometimes it's still congested and creeps along; and no, no facilities - you have to get OFF for a rest-stop, and there aren't too many obvious places between the airport and the Beltway. Actually, you need to be a camel on interstates between Balt. and south of Springfield almost no matter what, unless you take the 301 route.

Sorry I missed this one. If you want to try this coming back:
Take 301 across the river and at the first light in La Plata, turn left to Port Tobacco (Rte 6). Go a couple miles and just after the river turn right on Rose Hill Road (look for the brown and white sign for the Thomas Stone NHS, no posted rte#). Go a couple miles and thru the light at Rte 225, then in a couple more miles turn left on 227 and it'll take you right over over to Indian Head Highway (210) which you then just go north on about 8 miles, get very briefly on 95/495 S, and then onto 295 N heading to the BW parkway. This is the way to go either direction and avoid all of the mess on 95 as well as all the lights on 301. It's about 20 minutes from the turn at La Plata to 295 N at the Wilson Bridge.

Wow! More great stuff!

Thanks for the history and timing, Cyanna. Obx girl, could you share those "pit stops?"

Weimarer, I will definitely try this route northbound. We will be making this trip 6-8 times in the next four months, so saving time on individual trips is not quite as critical as playing the bets right over the long haul!

Weimarer - so GLAD to have that alternative to the alternative. Will try it next time around! Thanks.