New 66 Exit to 495 North & Rt 7 Exit S to 495 & 66W are Different (Falls Church: mall)

[Shelborne_22033]

Since 2009, I have been a regular 66 commuter from Fair Oaks Mall to Falls Church, close to Marshal HS.

The new flyover from 66E to 495N is nice. I can stay in the left flyover lane and travel onto 495 to the Rt 7E exit without changing lanes. It works much better than 3 yrs ago.

Why didn't VDOT design something similar for the opposite route? The Rt 7 to 495 S to 66 is a bottleneck. On the ramp, you have to merge to one lane, then merge left again for 1/4 mile before merging right to take the 66W exits.

The current config is a PITA.... I notice there may be ample shoulder space to create this extra lane but the new bridge abutment and right curve makes things tight. I cannot be the only one who has not experienced this weird design...

Anyone??

[CAVA1990]

I also wonder why they only have a single exit lane from 66E to 495S. They should have designed it so the second lane over has the option of exiting onto a left offramp lane. That's a pretty major intersection. I wonder how many people expect there will be one then suddenly have to change lanes.