Interstate 695 District of Columbia

History

Western Terminus

Eastern Terminus

Routing

The only Interstate highway located wholly within the District of Columbia, Interstate 695 connects Interstate 395/Southwest Freeway with Interstate 295/Anacostia Freeway. Using the Southeast Freeway and the 11th Street Bridge, Interstate 695 serves as the east-west connector between Interstates 395 and 295. Currently a missing interchange movement between Interstate 695 east and District of Columbia 295 north is being corrected as part of the 11th Street Bridge project. That project is slated for completion in fall of 2013 and portions of the project are already in use including two the new Anacostia River spans (as of December 2011). New signs installed as part of the 11th Street Bridge project revealed the signed status of Interstate 695 as of November 2011. For photographs covering the work can be viewed at JDLand's 11th Street Bridges page.

History

Interstate 295 and Interstate 695 have had considerable changes in its routing through the years, mostly as a result to resistance to new freeway construction in Washington, D.C., after the initial freeway network was built. Both Interstate 295 and Interstate 695 were approved in 1958 as original Interstate highways in D.C. Interstate 295 was approved from the Capital Beltway in Maryland and the District of Columbia north along the Anacostia Freeway, 11th Street Bridges across the Anacostia River, and East Leg Freeway from there north to meet Interstate 95. Interstate 695 was approved as a short, east-west freeway that would link Interstate 95 (now Interstate 395/Center Leg Freeway) and Interstate 295.

Due to the elimination of and changes to various freeway proposals throughout the metropolitan Washington, D.C., area, Interstate 295 was eventually shortened to end at Interstate 695. Plans to extend Interstate 295 further north to rejoin proposed Interstate 95 met with an anti-freeway revolt in the 1960s and 1970s, and thus neither route was built. To alleviate traffic associated with the missing connection, a new proposal was set in 1982 to extend Interstate 695 east along the unconstructed Barney Circle Freeway to allow a freeway connection between the central district and northbound District of Columbia 295/Kenilworth Avenue. The Barney Circle Freeway proposal was met with similar resistance and was removed from consideration in 1996. (Note: the Barney Circle Freeway was listed in the Federal Highway Administration Interstate Route Log and Finder's List as part of Interstate 295, but all planning documents listed this freeway as Interstate 695). About a decade later in 2007, planners developed a plan to reconstruct the Southeast Freeway (formerly Interstate 295) to include new bridges over the Anacostia River and ensure full movements between the Southeast Freeway and the Anacostia Freeway. Construction should extend between 2009 and late 2013.¹

To that end, at the AASHTO meeting of May 15, 2009, the routing of Interstate 295 and Interstate 695 were clarified as follows (quoting directly from the application presented to AASHTO by the District of Columbia Department of Transportation):

The purpose of this request is to redesignate the 0.61 mile portion of I-295 crossing the Anacostia River to I-695 to maintain system continuity. I-695 (Southeast Freeway) begins where I-395 turns north into the 3rd Street tunnel in Southwest Washington, and continues for 1.39 miles to the interchange with I-295 at 11th Street in Southeast Washington. In 1984, the District received approval from AASHTO to redesignate I-695 to I-395, and to redesignate the portion of I-395 through the 3rd Street tunnel as I-195. However, this approval was contingent on extending I-695 across the Anacostia River and connecting to DC 295 north of Pennsylvania Avenue. Since this connection was never completed, I-695 was never redesignated. This original application will be abandoned with approval of the current request. With the pending de-designation of a portion of I-295, I-695 will no longer connect to an interstate highway at its eastern terminus. Because of this, the District is requesting to extend I-695 across the Anacostia River on the de-designated I-295 alignment to a new terminus at the end of I-295. This change will serve to rationalize the freeway system in the District and provide for interstate connections at both ends of I-695.²

AASHTO approved this request to realign Interstate 295 and Interstate 695, contingent upon FHWA concurrence.

Several Interstate highway freeway proposals that were proposed to connect the center of the district with the suburbs to the north, northeast, and northwest never materialized. These freeway proposals include:

• Interstate 66 (Potomac River Freeway and North Leg Freeway) was planned for an extension from U.S. 29/Whitehurst Freeway east to Interstate 95, with connections to the U.S. 50 freeway en route to Annapolis.
• Interstate 95 was originally planned to run through the district, via Interstate 395 to U.S. 50, then north along a new alignment that would link with existing northern Interstate 95 interchange with the Capital Beltway.
• Center Leg Freeway - now known as Interstate 395 between Interstate 695/Southeast Freeway and U.S. 50 - groundbreaking in 1966 and open to traffic on November 5, 1973.³
• Continuation of the Center Leg Freeway north to meet Interstate 66/North Leg Freeway and the Capital Beltway was never constructed. Some of this former freeway right of way remains visible as a power transmission corridor.
• Interstate 266 - never built Three Sisters Bridge over the Potomac River between Virginia and the District of Columbia that would connect to Interstate 66 at either end; route was proposed in 1964 and was dead by 1977 due to community opposition.
• Interstate 270 / Interstate 70S was planned for an extension from its current southern terminus at the Capital Beltway/Interstate 495 into downtown Washington roughly parallel to Maryland 355 (Old U.S. 240) along one of two proposed but never-built freeway corridors: continuation of the Potomac River Freeway (north of Interstate 66) or Northwest Freeway.⁴
• Interstate 295/East Leg Freeway - from Barney Circle north to unbuilt Interstate 95

For more on Washington's freeways, there are two excellent sites that have much more detail than we do here. Please see Scott Kozel's District of Columbia Interstate Freeways or Steve Anderson's District of Columbia Roads.

Highway Guides

• Interstate 695 District of Columbia

	Western Terminus - Interstate 395 - Washington, D.C. Perspective from Interstate 695 west 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). Eastern Terminus - Interstate 295 and District of Columbia 295/Anacostia Freeway - Washington, D.C. Former Eastern Terminus - Pennsylvania Avenue - Washington, D.C. Perspective from Interstate 695 east 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).

Sources:

1. Southeast Freeway (Interstate 695) at DC Roads.Net (Steve Anderson)
2. AASHTO U.S. Highway Route Numbering Committee
3. Center Leg Freeway (Interstate 395) at DC Roads.Net (Steve Anderson)
4. Whitehurst Freeway (U.S. 29) at DC Roads.Net (Steve Anderson)

Page Updated January 18, 2012.