How much longer? Time signs to inform I-66 drivers to Gainesville and I-495

Electronic message signs on Interstate 66 between Gainesville and the Capital Beltway will display estimated travel times beginning Aug. 22, according to a statement from Gov. Robert McDonnell.

Travel times will be posted weekdays from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at three locations:
• I-66 West, just west of US 50, to display the travel time to Gainesville
• I-66 West, just west of VA 7100, to display the travel time to Gainesville
• I-66 East,  just east of VA 28, to display the travel time to I-495

According to the governor’s statement, Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will be using traffic data from Inrix and other sources to determine the travel times. “Traffic controllers at the Public Safety Transportation Operations Center in Fairfax County will ensure the travel times are successfully relayed to the electronic message signs and are accurately refreshed every five minutes,” the governor’s news release stated.
If VDOT’s two-month pilot project is successful, the governor’s plan is that electronic signage will be expanded to provide travel times to key destinations along other northern Virginia interstates and ultimately to highways throughout Virginia.

Learn more about the pilot project and provide feedback on the display times at http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/northernvirginia/travel_times.asp