Wilson Bridge, Md. - A variable speed limit program that has been tested on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge since August is ready to make its prime-time debut, the Virginia Department of Transportation says.

VDOT has been satisfied with the results of their experiment with variable speed limits during nighttime and off-peak hours.

John Undeland from the Wilson Bridge Project explained, "By slowing traffic upstream, you get a lot more efficiency... A lot more through-put of vehicles and a lot more safety."

"When I am two miles from my home, I spend almost two hours, an hour-and-a-half. Yeah, it's a nighmare," said one commuter of the legendary traffic on the beltway near Telegraph Road.

Undeland observed Monday morning's rush hour, the first during which the variable speed limits have been in effect. "Indications this morning are that when we lowered the speed limit to 45 this morning, it did have a discernible effect. People did slow down.... Things are working."

Not everyone is convinced that the speed limits are making any difference. Alexandria (web|news) resident Alex Adley notes, "I mean, people see the law, but they don't follow it sometimes."

The variable speed limits were employed at nighttime starting in August. VDOT officials hope that using them all day will help reduce bottlenecks and help with traffic congestion in the vicinity of the bridge.

Virginia State Police will be providing enforcement of the posted speed limits along the corridor.

Motorists on Interstate 95 in a seven-mile stretch between the Springfield interchange and the Maryland shore will be informed of the variable speed limits with electronic signs. Cameras and sensors measure the traffic flow. As the congestion worsens, traffic engineers adjust the speed limit downward. The idea behind the variable limits is that if drivers slow down they will travel more efficiently through the choke points near the bridge. 

The signs were introduced to cope with lane closures due to the reconstruction of the Telegraph Road Interchange, where the beltway is reduced from eight lanes to six for a two-mile stretch.

The new system is also meant to prevent some accidents by reducing sudden stops in traffic and make the roads safer, particularly for construction and law enforcement workers.

Another part of the plan to relieve traffic congestion on the bridge involves splitting the local and through traffic into seperate lanes; that change will into effect after the Thanksgiving holiday.

Motorists are encouraged to go to www.wilsonbridge.com to view real-time travel speeds and estimated delay times.