Drivers can expect to see a reversible lane on the George Washington Memorial Parkway around April 15.

The National Park Service, which manages the four-lane scenic parkway, announced the projected date recently. In December NPS said that there would be a reversible lane in winter 2023. The southbound lanes of the parkway will be completely shut off for construction when the lane is implemented. The lane will remain as that construction continues — it’s expected to go on through next year.

The project, which costs about $161 million, is one of the largest Great American Outdoors Act investments in the country.

The construction is part of the ongoing rehabilitation of the scenic parkway’s northern section, between Spout Run and the I-495/Capital Beltway in Fairfax and Arlington counties.  This section, which opened in 1962, is the busiest part of the parkway, with 26 million drivers using it every year. The National Park Service says it is deteriorating and the project will extend its lifespan and has given December 2025 as the projected completion date.

The northbound lanes will be divided into three, with the leftmost northbound always going north and the rightmost lane always going south. The center reversible lane will go in different directions depending on the time of day, going south in the morning rush hour from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and north from 2:45 to 7 p.m. Lanes will be demarcated with flexible posts. Those who are traveling south on the parkway and want to exit before Spout Run should stay in the right lane.

Mark Maloy, a spokesperson for the National Park Service, told DCist/WAMU that the changes will impact travel time and that drivers should use caution and slow down in the area. The speed limit has also been lowered to 40 miles per hour in the northern section.

Daily lane closures are ongoing as construction continues. Last month, workers removed some trees in the median to make room for temporary lanes.

For more detailed information on road changes, drivers can expect to find the March webinar starting Friday here.

An earlier version of the post incorrectly stated that the construction on the southbound lanes is ahead of schedule.