66 to 495 Express

[Anonymous]

i am trying to find out how to get on the express lanes of the Beltway from the express lanes of I-66 heading eastbound from Gainesville. I did great until I got to the beltway, and then took the 495 exit land north which put me in the center of rush hour traffic for 45 minutes. WHERE is the exit for 495 north EXPRESS? I have talked to the I-66 customer service and the Beltway customer service, and no one there can answer me. HELP from anyone who has actually driven this, and THANK YOU!!!

[Anonymous]

https://www.tollroadsinvirginia.com/Facility/ExpressLanes495/

[Anonymous]

What time of day? It may not have been open at the time you went.

[Anonymous]

There are 3 exits. The first is I-495S the second is the express which splits to both directions and the third is I-495N.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What time of day? It may not have been open at the time you went.

There are dedicated lanes for both directions for I-495 express and I-66 express, so they’re always open.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are 3 exits. The first is I-495S the second is the express which splits to both directions and the third is I-495N.

I got them flipped. You pass the I-495N exit (deceptively labeled “Express Exit”) and take the exit after that, which has the EZPass logo and is called Express Lanes. At that exit the lanes will split between north and south bound.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are 3 exits. The first is I-495S the second is the express which splits to both directions and the third is I-495N.

I got them flipped. You pass the I-495N exit (deceptively labeled “Express Exit”) and take the exit after that, which has the EZPass logo and is called Express Lanes. At that exit the lanes will split between north and south bound.

This. I do this route a lot and that deceptively labeled exit still gets me sometimes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are 3 exits. The first is I-495S the second is the express which splits to both directions and the third is I-495N.

I got them flipped. You pass the I-495N exit (deceptively labeled “Express Exit”) and take the exit after that, which has the EZPass logo and is called Express Lanes. At that exit the lanes will split between north and south bound.

Appreciate everyone’s helpful responses!

[Anonymous]

We moved to the western 'burbs last year, and I did the same thing, got on 495 North instead of the Express Lanes. Ended up sitting in traffic forever. The signage is terrible. The 495 North exit comes first THEN the 495 Express exit for both North and South. I still have to concentrate to not do it again.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know why the signage is so confusing everywhere in VA there are express lanes. I have gotten messed up many times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.tollroadsinvirginia.com/Facility/ExpressLanes495/

Thank you.

[Anonymous]

What you are doing is taking an "Express Exit" which you think means "Express Lanes" instead. So just don't veer left there and keep going a bit longer and then follow the purple EZPass signs and you get where you want.

The second time we messed it up I looked at my wife (also in the car) and said "We fell for that stupid sign again!!!"

[Anonymous]

That does sound confusing.

[Anonymous]

It's one exit for the express lanes and you can left or right. You got off too early.

[Anonymous]

These signs are terrible - I sometimes get it right by accident. Basically you have to exit to the left and then there’s another left exit that loops around and gets you going the right direction. But the signs will often fool me.