Media Contact: John Lisle at (202) 671-2004
(Washington, DC) The District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT) is advising motorists that the following road and bridge work scheduled for this weekend could impact traffic in the District.
In addition, heavy traffic is anticipated Saturday night in the area around Nationals Park for the Elton John and Billy Joel concert. The concert is scheduled to start at 7:30 pm. DDOT will deploy Traffic Control Officers to assist motorists and pedestrians. Also, in anticipation of large crowds, Metro will operate additional eight-car trains on the Green Line before and after the concert.
Ramp To 12th Street Tunnel Will Be Closed Saturday
DDOT will temporarily close the eastbound ramp to the 12th Street Tunnel as part of the ongoing rehabilitation of the 11th Street Bridge in Southwest. The ramp will be closed from 7 pm tonight, Friday, July 10, to 7 pm on Saturday, July 11, weather permitting.
Traffic coming across the Francis Case Memorial (14th Street) Bridge from Virginia will be required to take an alternate route. Motorists can go north on 14th Street to get downtown, or take the L’Enfant Plaza exit to D Street, SW. Detour signs will direct them to 7th Street.
The closing of the ramp is to allow for concrete pouring of the bridge deck and other work on the north end of the bridge.
Lane Closures on Northbound I-295 (Kenilworth Avenue)
Crews are scheduled to place a new section of Bridge Deck on the northbound span of the bridge carrying I-295 (Kenilworth Avenue) over Burroughs Ave, NE. This work will be conducted beginning at 12:00 am on Saturday, July 11, and is scheduled to continue through the early morning hours of Monday, July 13, 2009.
Due to the nature of the work temporary lane closures are necessary; this includes the closure of the right and center lanes on northbound Kenilworth Avenue.
One left lane will available for through traffic or vehicles may exit and use an overflow detour by taking the Burroughs Ave. exit and then merging back onto I-295 after crossing through the Burroughs Ave. intersection.
Two lanes in the southbound direction will remain open at all times during the planned construction this weekend.
Traffic delays and back-ups are anticipated until the bridge is re-opened at 5 am on Monday, July 13, prior to the morning rush hour. Motorists are advised to consider alternate routes through the area over the weekend.
Alternate routes to I-495 (Beltway) and beyond include:
- I-395 to 50 East (New York Avenue)
- Whitney Young Memorial Bridge/East Capitol Street/Central Avenue
- Sousa Bridge/Pennsylvania Avenue, SE
Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge Swing Span Opening Sunday
DDOT is scheduled to close the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge (aka South Capital Street Bridge) for routine testing, from 4 am to approximately 9 am on Sunday, July 12, 2009.
During normal opening and closing operations, the swing span is lowered and then turned or “swung” around in order to allow water traffic to pass. Crews test the swing span each month to ensure it operates properly and make any necessary repairs.
The bridge will be reopened to traffic as soon as the test opening and related repairs are completed. In most cases the work is completed ahead of schedule.
Monday Closure of 6th Street, NE Between H and I Streets
Construction activity in the H Street Corridor on Monday July 13 will require the closure of the northbound lanes of 6th Street, NE between H and I Streets, from 9 am to 4 pm.
All northbound traffic will be re-directed to 5th Street, NE. Signs will be posted, and flaggers will be at the impacted intersections to assist motorists and pedestrians.