Traffic congestion is severe on the 495-Beltway Legion Bridge, which connects Virginia and Maryland. Drivers who need to cross the Potomac River and travel between the two states have no choice but to use this bridge despite the heavy traffic. The alternative routes, such as the Wilson Bridge on the other side or traveling through Washington, D.C., also lead to significant delays.
Due to the nature of the Washington area, there is a large floating population between Virginia and Maryland, making the 495-Beltway notorious for rush hour congestion. While Virginia is working to alleviate this issue by expanding toll lanes, Maryland has no current plans for improvement, making the efforts in Virginia effectively less impactful.
In response to the situation, Fairfax County Chairman Jeff McKay publicly expressed his frustration on the 18th, stating, “Montgomery County, Maryland, is wilfully ignoring this problem.” He argued that Maryland is hoping that if commuters are unable to cross the bridge, they will stay in Maryland and take jobs there instead of traveling to Virginia, which he called “the most ridiculous economic vision in history.”
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich countered, explaining that unlike Virginia, Maryland has not yet started any projects and that the Legion Bridge’s improvements heavily depend on federal funding, which has been delayed due to funding issues. Elrich expressed understanding of McKay’s frustration but emphasized that Maryland has no intention of intentionally delaying or obstructing the project. He also added, “If there’s a problem, they can call and discuss it, not in the press.”
Despite these discussions, Maryland still has no concrete plan to address the ongoing congestion at the Legion or Wilson Bridges.