DDOT Begins Construction for M Street Bike Lane, Limits Street Parking

The District Department of Transportation announced Thursday that construction of a bike lane on M Street will begin on Nov.25, an Advisory Neighborhood Committee release said. 

The project is estimated to take from four to six weeks, depending on weather, the release said.

According to the District Department of Transportation, a crew will start at M Street and Rhode Island Avenue and work its way west. Construction will be Monday-Friday, before and after rush hour, the ANC release said. 

"Curbside parking spaces will be temporarily restricted to accommodate installation activities," the release said. 

The lane, stretching along the westbound side of M Street between 14th Street NW and 28th Street NW, will be a "protected" cycle track, meaning parked cars and posts will stand between bikers and traffic, a DDOT Bike Lane Project document said.

"The lane is designed to give bicyclists more protection from cars than a typical bike lane, and to prevent delivery vehicles from illegally parking in the bike lane," the document said. 

A small part of the lane near Thomas Circle will be exposed to traffic, but will be painted green, the ANC release said. 

The new lane will cost a couple parking spots at each intersection and will only minimally increase traffic, DDOT said.