Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Department of Defense’s Washington Headquarters Services and Transurban officials met on Tuesday in order to open the redesigned and improved Pentagon South Parking Lot. With over 5,200 vehicles passing through the parking lot each day, improvements entail new bus-only travel lanes and redesigned HOV and commuter lanes that aim to enhance the efficiency and safety within the heavily traveled area.

These modifications are a part of the bigger I-395 Express Lanes Project. The new bus loop, furnished with new pedestrian sidewalks along with fencing and barriers is aimed to minimize issues between passenger vehicles and buses.

The $480 million I-395 Express Lanes Northern Extension Project is being delivered through a public-private partnership between the Virginia Department of Transportation and Transurban. The Pentagon South Parking Lot improvements cost approximately $10 million, and are funded by a federal “Fast Lane” grant, as well as a combination of VDOT and federal funds. Under a contract with Transurban, Lane Construction is the builder of the overall project, and AECOM Engineering completed the project’s design. The eight-mile 395 Express Lanes extension is slated to open in late 2019.