Wisconsin Avenue Construction 'Substantially Complete'

The Wisconsin Avenue Streetscape Project, love it or hate it, is "substantially complete," according to the District Department of Transportation (DDOT).

"The $5 million construction project was initiated this past April and has brought key transportation safety and pedestrian friendly enhancements to the Wisconsin Avenue corridor between 34th Street and Massachusetts Avenue in northwest Washington," according to a press release.

The changes, which include , have been the source of consternation on the Glover Park listserv and at several community meetings.

Part of the changes include lane reductions, which many residents fear will send traffic to side streets in the community. At an April meeting nearly 100 people turned out to get some answers from DDOT.

Part of the issue is that the plan evolved from an Office of Planning study from 2006. Between then and when construction began there were various efforts to elicit community input, but many residents claimed they did not have a say in the matter.

In August, DDOT committed to installing stop signs and cross walks along 37th Street as well as redesigning the traffic pattern as 37th Street empties into Tunlaw Road. The redesign has not begun, though new stop signs did pop up over the summer and fall.

DDOT has also agreed to monitor traffic flow in the project area and to potentially reverse the lane reductions if they have an extremely negative impact on the community.

For now, though, DDOT is proudly announcing the months-long project's completion.

"Within the coming weeks the project team will continue to complete the project and address out-standing punch-list items. The final roadway paving and stripping is scheduled to be completed by Dec. 21, weather permitting. The project team will also be adjusting the timing on the traffic signalization system along the project area to optimize traffic flow in the area," according to the press release.