The only Interstate highway located wholly within the District of Columbia, unsigned Interstate 695 is the Southeast Freeway, which acts as the east-west connector between Interstate 395 and Interstate 295. Interstate 695 connects with southbound Interstate 295 via the Anacostia River bridge, and it links with northbound District of Columbia 295 (and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway) via Pennsylvania Avenue. Interstate 695 is often misrepresented on maps as part of either Interstate 395 or 295, partially because eastbound is signed as "To Interstate 295 South" and westbound is signed as "To Interstate 395."
While there is direct freeway to freeway access from eastbound Interstate 695 to southbound Interstate 295, no such connection exists to northbound District of Columbia 295. Interstate 295 begins at the point where the Southeast Freeway merges with southbound District of Columbia 295. Interstate 695 meets its current eastern terminus at the interchange with Interstate 295, just west of the northern terminus of Interstate 295 at Pennsylvania Avenue. A ghost ramp shows the planned extension of Interstate 295 from Pennsylvania Avenue toward Barney Circle.
Interstate 295 was planned for extension eastward via the Barney Circle Freeway, which would extend the Interstate 695 freeway northeast to meet District of Columbia 295 near Kenilworth Avenue and East Capitol Street via a new Anacostia River Bridge. This extension was championed by the federal government but disapproved by local government, and it was killed in 1996. It is possible that had Interstate 695 been constructed to the Barney Circle of Pennsylvania Avenue that it would have been signed at that time.
The Barney Circle Freeway was originally considered as part of Interstate 295, back when that highway was planned to be extended north to meet unconstructed Interstate 95 near U.S. 50/New York Avenue and Junction Alternate U.S. 1. For more, see Scott Kozel's excellent District of Columbia Interstate Freeways.
Although seen on some maps as an easterly extension of Interstate 695, the Barney Circle Freeway was listed in the Federal Highway Administration Interstate Route Log and Finder's List as part of Interstate 295. Therefore, we consider the Barney Circle Freeway an unconstructed part of Interstate 295.
Traveling west on Interstate 695/Southeast Freeway, four lanes travel on a raised viaduct toward the rendezvous with Interstate 395 in downtown Washington, D.C. The right lane becomes exit only for Interstate 395 north, while the left three lanes continue west onto southbound Interstate 395 toward Arlington, Virginia. Photo taken by Steve Hanudel (08/12/05).
Interstate 395 travels north under the Capitol Mall, passing through a tunnel that emerges north of D Street. The freeway ends at U.S. 50/New York Avenue. Use 6th Street S.W. for the convention center, U.S. Department of Transportation, L'Enfant Square, and the National Mall. Photo taken by Steve Hanudel (08/12/05).
Westbound Interstate 695/Southeast Freeway reaches its final exit, which connects the freeway with northbound Interstate 395. The left three lanes continue west onto southbound Interstate 395, while the number four lane will connect to 6th Street S.W. Photo taken by Steve Hanudel (08/12/05).
Cresting over the top of the interchange between Interstate 395 and Interstate 695, traffic from southbound Interstate 395 merges onto the freeway in the distance. Interstate 695/Southeast Freeway ends, and Interstate 395/Southwest Freeway begins. Photo taken by Steve Hanudel (08/12/05).
Perspective from Interstate 395 south
Soon after Interstate 395 begins, signage is in place for the eastern beginning of Interstate 695. Again Interstate 695 is shown as to Interstate 295. These particular panels are original button copy signs fitted with new reflectorized bubble shields. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03).
Interstate 395 southbound split with Interstate 695 eastbound. The Interstate 295 shield on the left-hand panel contains "D.C." in it. Interstate 395 turns to the west as the Southwest Freeway toward Washington Channel before crossing the Potomac River into Arlington, Virginia. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03).
Continuing eastward on the Interstate 695 ramp from Interstate 395 southbound. The control given in the above photograph is Anacostia. Interstate 295 is designated the Anacostia Freeway for the river it parallels in eastern Washington. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03).
Access to the Interstate 695 ramp to South Capital Street is available for traffic arriving from Interstate 395 southbound. South Capital Street connects to the Anacostia Naval Station ad Bolling A.F.B. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03).
Interstate 395 southbound traffic ascends to the mainline of Interstate 695 east from Interstate 395 north. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03).
With traffic from both directions of Interstate 395 merged, Interstate 695 sees its second exit, that of 6th Street Southeast. The terminus of the route occurs in 0.75 miles as traffic splits between Interstate 295 south and Pennsylvania Avenue east. None of the exits along Interstate 695 are numbered. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03).
Interstate 695 eastbound at the second exit/6th Street Southeast. This off-ramp serves the Washington Navy Yard. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03).
Perspective from Interstate 395 north
Interstate 395 northbound, nearing the western terminus of Interstate 695 where Interstate 395 turns northward under the National Mall. Although the signage points to the left lane, the C Street Southwest exit ramp is located on Interstate 395. This interchange serves the U.S. Capital and U.S. House of Representatives. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03).
Interstate 395 branches to the right for its northerly turn as Interstate 695 eastbound begins. Signage for Interstate 695 in the eastbound direction reflects "TO Interstate 295". The first exit of Interstate 695 is for South Capital Street in one half mile. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03).
Interstate 395 northbound descends below Interstate 695 and the National Mall. There are a series of tunnels along Interstate 395 between Interstate 695 and the northern terminus at U.S. 50/New York Avenue. Because of this hazardous materials are prohibited. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03).
As this diagrammatical overhead displays, the mainline of Interstate 695 defaults onto Pennsylvania Avenue eastbound. Interstate 695 is known as the Southeast Freeway as well, with that distinction branching to the southeast onto Interstate 295 south/Anacostia Freeway. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03).
Just north of the Washington Navy Yard, Interstate 695 prepares to split into branches to Pennsylvania Avenue east and to Interstate 295 south and Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03).
Continuing on the Pennsylvania Avenue eastbound branch of Interstate 695. The stack interchange in the background is with the Southeast Freeway to Interstate 295 and Martin Luther King Jr Avenue. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03).
One-half mile before the end of this freeway branch at Pennsylvania Avenue east. Plans called for this stub to connect to the unconstructed Interstate 295/Barney Circle Freeway, but that freeway has been canceled. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03).
The freeway defaults onto a two-lane offramp to Pennsylvania Avenue eastbound. This marks the eastern terminus of Interstate 695. To the left is an overpass over a ghost section of freeway. There are do not enter signs posted at the end of the ramp to the left; this ramp is an active ramp that acts as one of the primary routes into Robert F. Kennedy Stadium (home of the Washington Redskins) as well as provide emergency access to a nearby hospital. (Thanks to Paul Rizzo, 09/02/04, for the additional information.) Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03).
A closer look at the ghost section of freeway. This segment of freeway was to have extended northward as part of the Barney Circle Freeway to meet northbound District of Columbia 295 and eastbound U.S. 50. As with most of the inner city freeway network of the District of Columbia, it was cancelled several times but is still a remote possibility for construction. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03).
Crossing the Anacostia River on Pennsylvania Avenue eastbound. This sign bridge displays the lanes motorists should take to access the Anacostia Freeway. A District of Columbia 295 shield is posted for the Anacostia Freeway northbound. Interstate 295 begins on the Anacostia Freeway south at the Southwest Freeway/Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard interchange. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03).
Pennsylvania Avenue eastbound at the southbound on-ramp to the Anacostia Freeway. Interstate 295 southbound begins in one mile from this ramp. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03).
The northbound ramp to District of Columbia 295 (the only district level route number) requires traffic from Pennsylvania Avenue eastbound to turn left at this traffic light. The Anacostia Freeway reaches U.S. 50 and converts to the Baltimore-Washington Parkway in four miles. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03).
