During the 495 NEXT project's Big Beam Weekend, that took effect from Friday, Jan. 24, at 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. Monday, Jan. 27, 2025 on northbound I-495 (Capital Beltway Inner Loop) near Tysons, Shirley’s crews worked 54 consecutive hours to install 10 massive girders across Interstate 495 in Virginia. The impressive work was a key part of the comprehensive I-495 Express Lanes Northern Extension (495 NEXT) project, a public-private partnership between the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Transurban. The project alleviated congestion and enhance safety for one of the nation’s busiest highways through a two-and-a-half-mile extension of the express lanes from the Dulles Corridor to the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Five lines of steel girders (made up of 10 beams) spanning 295 feet in length were lifted over northbound I-495 to support a new express lanes ramp as part of the 495 Express Lanes Northern Extension (495 NEXT) project. Each girder is 11-feet tall by 3-feet wide, and weighs between 70 to 80 tons. During the Big Beam Weekend, beams were hoisted by cranes and secured into place. This critical work could not be done overtop traffic and required lane closures to be in place. Typically, this type of planned construction occurs during nighttime hours or non-peak travel times to limit impacts to the traveling public. However, due to the magnitude of the Big Beam operation – the largest girders to be installed on the 495 NEXT project – an extended work period was necessary for everyone’s safety. During the installation, lanes on northbound I-495 were reduced and multiple ramps at the I-495 and Dulles Corridor interchange were also closed and detoured all weekend. During this presentation, you will learn about the challenges faced and the success stories of Shirley Contracting Company, LLC.