commute times from southern md to alexandria va

[pbotz]

Looking at a job in Alexandria VA. I would be leaving the charlotte hall md area about 6.15am returning 5Pm , Mon - Friday

seeing if anyone has or is currently driving this or a similar route to work.

I spoke to someone who drives to crystal city area and i was told to expect 1.5 hr plus rides.

Looking to see if this is a uniform opinion also.

Seems that once you get near that Woodrow Wilson bridge things get real slow.

 

[wm1953]

If I leave before 5am I can make it to National, by way of
Old Town, in less than an hour. Leaving at 6:15 it will take
you at least 1.5hrs.

 

[officeguy]

Seems that once you get near that Woodrow Wilson bridge things get real slow.

The bridge itself is not the problem. Highway 210 from Swan Creek Rd to the interchange with 495 is where you get hung up. The bridge is not much of an issue, the next slowdown is on Rt 1 when you get into old-town.

(where in Alex is the job, can add some extra time)

 

[Baja28]

6:15 is the absolute worst time you could leave for any location past Waldorf. You're in the heart of rush hour.

Like Officeguy said, the bottle neck is 210 & 495. The bridge flows nicely once you get on it.

Where in Alexandria. It's a big city.

 

[officeguy]

6:15 is the absolute worst time you could leave for any location past Waldorf. You're in the heart of rush hour.

If there is any way you can show up to work at 9, you would save yourself a lot of headache. 8:30, 210 pretty much clears up. You would still be stuck with it for the evening commute, anything after 3:30 until about 7 means stop&go from the 495 exit to about Old Fort.

(part of the problem is that the legislators in Annapolis decided to pocket the money allocated in the Wilson bridge rehab budget to turn 210 into an intersection free highway.)

The other day someone showed me an old map from the 50s. Back then, what is now 210 was penciled in as an interstate. It would have followed roughly Chicamuxen road and crossed the river near Buds Ferry to Quantico and connected to what is now 95. There was quite some land-speculation happening as a result of these plans.

 

[Crewdawg141]

Looking at a job in Alexandria VA. I would be leaving the charlotte hall md area about 6.15am returning 5Pm , Mon - Friday

seeing if anyone has or is currently driving this or a similar route to work.

I spoke to someone who drives to crystal city area and i was told to expect 1.5 hr plus rides.

Looking to see if this is a uniform opinion also.

Seems that once you get near that Woodrow Wilson bridge things get real slow.

I Live in Charlotte Hall and commute to Arlington every day, it takes me about a hour to get from home to where I work off of Seminary in Arlington. I leave at 0545 and I go up 5, be warned that there are times that 5 is FUBARed due to the increasing stupidity of the morning commuters and you WILL be Late.

 

[pbotz]

Where in Alexandria. It's a big city.[/QUOTE]




Off picket street. It was I believe it was the exit for van dorn street about 3 or 4 miles after I crossed the brige.

 

[PrchJrkr]

6:15 is the absolute worst time you could leave for any location past Waldorf. You're in the heart of rush hour.

Like Officeguy said, the bottle neck is 210 & 495. The bridge flows nicely once you get on it.

Where in Alexandria. It's a big city.

Remember when 210 was 2 lanes? One in, one out. The main attraction for us kids, was catching a glimpse of the drive-in movie screen, as dad pushed the Pontiac Safari to about 90mph!

 

[officeguy]

Off picket street. It was I believe it was the exit for van dorn street about 3 or 4 miles after I crossed the brige.

Should be ok up that way. For a couple of months, that area was a bit of headache when they were resurfacing everything up to the 395 interchange, but now there doesn't seem to be much of a backup in the morning.

 

[insthrnmd]

I live about 5 minutes outside of Hughesville (so I'm leaving the same area as you) and commute to Old Town. The earlier you leave the better. For example, I have to be at work by 6:30 am. If I leave around 5:40 am, I'll get there in time. One way you can go is take 231 to 381 to Rt. 5. Do note that the longer you wait to leave, the longer you will sit in traffic. So if for some reason I leave around 6 or after 6, traffic starts to back up. Rt. 5 is not too bad but inner loop of 495 starts to back up the closer you get to 7 am and after.

 

[Baja28]

Remember when 210 was 2 lanes? One in, one out. The main attraction for us kids, was catching a glimpse of the drive-in movie screen, as dad pushed the Pontiac Safari to about 90mph!

No I don't remember that at all. WAYYYYY before my time.

 

[pbotz]

good info. My job would start at 8. Its ok to get there earlier but getting there at 7 to avoid traffic is not overly enjoyable.
Seems like if you start at 7 or earlier its a so so ride, anything after that sounds pretty slow going.