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A four-year rehabilitation of the northern George Washington Memorial Parkway is complete, ending years of lane closures and shifting traffic patterns along one of the region’s busiest commuter routes.

Officials marked the milestone Monday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony beside the roadway. The $167 million project covered the parkway between the Capital Beltway and Spout Run.

Construction began in 2022 and included repaving, drainage improvements, stone-wall restoration and other infrastructure upgrades. According to the Interior Department, it was the first major rehabilitation of the parkway’s northern section since it opened in 1962.

Jen Madello, the parkway’s National Park Service superintendent, described the completed work as the renewal of a historic and heavily traveled gateway into Washington.

Rep. Don Beyer of Virginia joked that he would miss navigating the frequent lane shifts and unusually narrow travel lanes. He also said the finished project demonstrated what cooperation can accomplish.

Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia credited bipartisan support, including the Great American Outdoors Act signed during President Donald Trump’s first term, with helping make the work possible.

Warner said similar cooperation will be needed for planned improvements to the parkway’s southern section. He acknowledged that construction there could also inconvenience drivers but said the eventual result would be a safer, better-preserved route for people who rely on the parkway as a major artery through the Washington region.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the improvements reflect a broader investment in infrastructure. He characterized the parkway as more than a roadway, calling it a gateway that helps tell the nation’s story.