Media Contacts:  Jack Pfeiffer, EOM (202) 727-1751; John Lisle, DDOT (202) 671-2004

(Washington, DC) Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) today announced the acceleration of construction work on Benning Road, NE. On a visit to the work site with DDOT Director Gabe Klein, Mayor Fenty announced crews will now work double shifts to complete the repaving of two travel lanes in each direction by mid-August. In addition, all of the roadwork on Benning, from 16th Street to Oklahoma Avenue, including the repaving of the center lanes and installation of streetcar tracks, is now scheduled to be completed in December 2009.

“I have personally heard from many residents who have been impacted by this important project,” said Mayor Fenty. “I have asked DDOT and Director Klein to do everything humanly possible to speed up the construction and return this great street to the citizens of the District of Columbia.”

The Benning Road Great Streets Project was originally scheduled to be completed by early 2010, but utility-related work has delayed some aspects of the project, including the reconstruction of the roadway.

“Although the delays have been out of our control,” said Director Klein, “the District has decided to incorporate double shifts for construction crews in an effort to get back on schedule, and get Benning Road repaved and reopened – as promised – by the end of the year.”

The federally funded $35 million project includes the phased reconstruction of Benning Road, NE from 14th and H Streets to Oklahoma Avenuw. It also includes portions of Maryland Avenue and Bladensburg Road.

Work on the project includes:

• Reconstruction of the roadway with new brick gutters and granite curbs
• Sidewalk restoration featuring a pedestrian-friendly exposed aggregate surface treatment
• Safety Improvements including new crosswalks, wheelchair ramps, and driveway entrances
• New Streetlights and traffic signal upgrades
• Upgraded water mains, storm drains, inlet basins and sewer lines
• Landscaping improvements, coordinated with the adjacent Starburst Intersection Project
• Installation of Streetcar tracks

The final portion of the project will be the completion of the starburst intersection where H Street, Benning Road, Bladensburg Road and Maryland Avenue come together.  That work includes the construction of a plaza with a historical mural and other outdoor attractions for the neighborhood, and is scheduled to be completed in April 2010.