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Old 11-23-2009, 06:45 AM
 
12,906 posts, read 15,688,846 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jesco White View Post
Do they switch every day at noon? Also.. are there multiple entry points onto them, or is it just at the top of 95 and where they stop 20 miles south? I'm a few miles south of the interchange, just wondering if it's worth it to drive back to the interchange, turn around and get in the HOV's if that's my only option.


The time they switch varies. Sometimes it is noon sometimes it is 1:00. I remember one Wednesday before Thanksgiving, I left work at 11:00 a.m. Got burned on that as the HOVs didn't open until noon. Sat in traffic for well over an hour when I got past Springfield.

It is worth it for you to drive up a bit and get into them. Springfield is your last chance.
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Old 11-23-2009, 08:24 AM
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tgbwc View Post
Really? Most schools don't get out until Wed. afternoon. I would think that would be the worst time with a rush to leave.
my son's school is out on Wed.
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Old 11-23-2009, 03:38 PM
 
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Ughh.. perhaps I'll try and leave around 11... every time I think I have an advantage for once in traffic I always end up humbled .
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Old 11-23-2009, 08:05 PM
 
Location: Suburbia
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VaMomatHome View Post
my son's school is out on Wed.
Right, just as I said.
I say close school on Wed. 2 hour early dismissals don't really help much to avoid traffic. We'll be leaving after my son is done with school, but it probably won't get us on the road until about 2:00.
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Old 11-24-2009, 05:37 AM
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jesco White View Post
Do they switch every day at noon? Also.. are there multiple entry points onto them, or is it just at the top of 95 and where they stop 20 miles south? I'm a few miles south of the interchange, just wondering if it's worth it to drive back to the interchange, turn around and get in the HOV's if that's my only option.
The I-395/I95 HOV start southbound at 1pm on weekdays. Other than getting on by the Pentagon, you can get on them by crossing over on an entrance ramp from the main lanes between Duke St. and Edsall Rd., and again between Rt. 644 in Springfield and Lorton. You can also enter the southbound HOV lanes from the Franconia-Springfield Parkway near Springfield Mall.
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Old 11-24-2009, 06:11 AM
 
12,906 posts, read 15,688,846 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bornindc View Post
The I-395/I95 HOV start southbound at 1pm on weekdays. Other than getting on by the Pentagon, you can get on them by crossing over on an entrance ramp from the main lanes between Duke St. and Edsall Rd., and again between Rt. 644 in Springfield and Lorton. You can also enter the southbound HOV lanes from the Franconia-Springfield Parkway near Springfield Mall.
I have found that on the day before a holiday (such as this Wednesday) and most every Friday, they open them up southbound a tad early (usually by noon). No guarantee of that though.

The rainy weather is most likely going to make things much worse. I already noticed yesterday (I leave DC at 2:30) that it was more jammed than usual. Not "horrific" yet but close. And you can see all the cars with the bikes strapped on them or those thing son the roof. The travelers have started. This afternoon should be interesting.
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Old 11-24-2009, 10:56 AM
 
Location: Beautiful beaches of Florida!
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At 9AM this morning I95 south was a parking lot as I traveled over an overpass in the Lorton area. Good luck to all!
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Old 11-24-2009, 02:01 PM
 
12,906 posts, read 15,688,846 times
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Well, I am here to report that 95 South was looking good at 3:00 p.m. Regular lanes were clear all the way to Dale City. I didn't see any brake lights looking farther down, it appeared all clear. I was kind of shocked.
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Old 11-24-2009, 10:09 PM
 
404 posts, read 1,096,230 times
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Left springfield area at 11 AM.. 95 South was slow but moving for the first 10 miles, but then just heavy traffic all the way until Fredericksburg. I ended up getting off on 3 there and taking back roads all the way to cville. Got to see parts of the state i'd never seen before and it only took about 2 hours, of which only 30 mins were stressful. Thanks for the tips and advice everyone!
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