Benefits

The 495 Express Lanes project will provide a number of benefits to the Virginia community and commuters. These include:
 

• congestion relief with minimum impact on the surrounding environment
• reducing commuting time by half during peak hours*
• allowing drivers using the HOT lanes to travel at twice the speed of traffic in the regular lanes during peak hour*
• improving vital links between key employment, commercial and residential centres
• ensuring the interstate continues to support the economic vitality of the region
• creating new public transport and carpooling opportunities through the introduction of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) and reliable transit options to the Beltway, and
• enhancing road safety and improving access for emergency services.

* Transurban projections for 2015