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Interstate 495, more commonly called "'''The Beltway'''", is a 6 to 8 lane [[highway]] which surrounds [[Washington DC]]. At no point does the Beltway actually enter Washington DC. It loops through [[Suburb]]an [[Maryland]] and Northern [[Virginia]] crossing the [[Potomac River]] in two different locations.  The [[American Legion Bridge]] and the [[Woodrow Wilson Bridge]] are choke-points for area traffic. <ref>http://www.traffic.com/Washington-DC-Traffic/I-495_Capital_Beltway-1.html</ref> Because the Beltway is a closed loop the usual directional terminology used on other highways is ineffective in describing I-495. Thus, rather than traveling on North I-495 or East I-495, the two directions on the Beltway are called the "Inner Loop" and the "Outer Loop".  Travellers on the Inner Loop of the Beltway move in a "clockwise" direction, while Outer Loop travellers travel the opposite direction.

A '''beltway''' is a [[highway]] that encircles an [[urban]] area so that [[traffic]] does not have to go through that urban area.<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/beltway "Beltway," from Dictionary.com]</ref>

 

"The Beltway" as a proper noun typically refers to I-495, properly called "The Capital Beltway," the eastern half of which is also designated I-95. The Capital Beltway is a 6 to 8 lane highway which surrounds [[Washington DC]]. It loops through [[Suburb]]an [[Maryland]] and Northern [[Virginia]] (and for a very short distance over the waters of the District of Columbia<ref>[http://www.roadstothefuture.com/Woodrow_Wilson_Bridge.html "Woodrow Wilson Bridge," from Roads to the Future]</ref>), crossing the [[Potomac River]] in two different locations.  The [[American Legion Bridge]] and the [[Woodrow Wilson Bridge]] are choke-points for area traffic. <ref>http://www.traffic.com/Washington-DC-Traffic/I-495_Capital_Beltway-1.html</ref>

 

Because the Beltway is a closed loop, the usual directional terminology used on other highways is ineffective in describing I-495. Thus, rather than traveling on North I-495 or East I-495, the two directions on the Beltway are called the "Inner Loop" and the "Outer Loop".  Travellers on the Inner Loop of the Beltway move in a "clockwise" direction, while Outer Loop travellers travel the opposite direction.

The Beltway is an extremely busy roadway, used by tourists, commuters and interstate travellers. During rush hour it is not uncommon for the Beltway to slow to thirty miles per hour or less due to the factors such as traffic volume, accidents or weather related delays. The phrase "Inside the Beltway" refers to political matters related to the Capitol in Washington DC. <ref>http://www.c-span.org/guide/congress/glossary/beltway.htm</ref> "Inside the Beltway" is also a regular column in the [[Washington Times]]. Most governmental agencies and buildings are located inside the Beltway in Maryland, DC or Virginia.

The Beltway is an extremely busy roadway, used by tourists, commuters and interstate travellers. During rush hour it is not uncommon for the Beltway to slow to thirty miles per hour or less due to the factors such as traffic volume, accidents or weather related delays. The phrase "Inside the Beltway" refers to political matters related to the Capitol in Washington DC. <ref>http://www.c-span.org/guide/congress/glossary/beltway.htm</ref> "Inside the Beltway" is also a regular column in the [[Washington Times]]. Most governmental agencies and buildings are located inside the Beltway in Maryland, DC or Virginia.