Drivers on the George Washington Memorial Parkway may soon have clearer views of the Potomac, but they should also expect weekend lane closures during restoration work.
The National Park Service announced yesterday (Monday) that crews will “rehabilitate” 15 scenic vistas between the North Donaldson Overlook and Spout Run Parkway.
The project, funded through the 2020 Great American Outdoors Act, will clear about three acres of overgrown, invasive trees that have obstructed views. Native species, including tulip poplars, oaks and red maples, will be replanted in their place.
To complete the work, northbound lanes will be closed on select weekends, including this upcoming Saturday (Sept. 28) from 2 a.m. to 9 p.m. between Windy Run Bridge and Spout Run Parkway.
During the closures, all northbound traffic on the GW Parkway will be routed off at Spout Run Parkway, with detours directing drivers to Route 123. One southbound lane will remain open, per a park service press release.
The scenic vista restoration is part of a larger rehabilitation project along the northern section of the GW Parkway, which began in April 2023 and is expected to continue through late 2025. The initiative aims to improve drivability and safety for the 26 million annual drivers who use the parkway.
In January, the parkway was shifted to a three-lane setup with a reversible lane, moving traffic from the northbound to the southbound side between I-495 and Route 123.
As of this summer, crews have replaced 26% of the parkway’s roadway, according to the park service’s website. They have also repaired or replaced 59% of the guard wall, completed 68% of drainage work, repaired 85% of the outfalls — the point where the sewer drains into a larger body of water — and finished 60% of bridge repairs.
