Media Contact: John Lisle (DDOT) at (202) 671-2004

(Washington, DC) The District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT) is scheduled to close the Eastern Avenue Bridge over Kenilworth Avenue, NE (DC 295) on Monday, February 1, 2010.

The closure, which was first announced in November, is necessary to complete the reconstruction of the existing bridge. The new bridge will provide higher clearances to Interstate traffic on Kenilworth Avenue and improve traffic flow through the intersection of Eastern and Kenilworth Avenues.

The bridge will be closed to traffic and pedestrians from February 1 through mid-October 2010. DDOT was able to decrease the length of the project, from a projected 2 years to less than one year, by using innovative construction methods, including pre-casting several large elements of the bridge.

While the bridge is closed, motorists are advised to consider alternate routes through the area during this project. Local residents and business that need to cross Kenilworth Avenue can use the following detour routes

• Traffic traveling southbound on Kenilworth Avenue wanting to travel eastbound on Eastern Avenue will be routed to a dedicated u-turn lane at Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, back to the northbound Kenilworth Avenue service road so they can make a right hand turn onto eastbound Eastern Avenue.
• Traffic traveling Northbound on Kenilworth Avenue may still exit at Eastern Avenue for travel onto eastbound Eastern Avenue only.  All other northbound traffic heading for west bound Eastern Avenue (across the bridge) should follow detour signs on New York Avenue/ Route 50 that will bring you back to the southbound Kenilworth Avenue exit ramp for Eastern Avenue.
• Westbound traffic on Eastern Ave, NE needing to travel northbound on Kenilworth Avenue will still make the same right-hand turn onto northbound Kenilworth Avenue from Eastern Avenue.
• Westbound traffic on Eastern Avenue, NE needing to travel southbound on Kenilworth Avenue will make the right-hand turn from Eastern Avenue onto northbound Kenilworth Avenue and follow the detour on New York Avenue/ Route 50 to gain access onto southbound Kenilworth Avenue.

The bridge has a minimal amount of foot traffic and during the closure pedestrians can use the nearest crossing at Polk Street.