DC Traffic Alerts: What Greater Washington Roads to Avoid

The National Park Service has issued the following updates on road work and lane closures that may impact traffic in Georgetown and the Greater Washington, DC, area. (And there's some good news, too.)

National Mall and Memorial Parks

Maine Avenue Roadway Reconstruction from 14th Street Bridge to Tidal Basin Parking Area

TRAFFIC CONTROL – LANE CLOSURES

No lane closures at Maine Avenue are expected.  Construction work for the project has been completed.

Rock Creek Parkway

Reconstruction of Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway from P Street to Beach Drive continues

TRAFFIC CONTROL – LANE CLOSURES

Monday, September 9 through Friday, September 13 (9:30 am to 3:45 pm)

Expect single lane closures on southbound Rock Creek Parkway between Beach Drive and P Street for street light work.  Expect single-lane closures on northbound Rock Creek Parkway between P Street and Beach Drive for street light work.

Beginning Tuesday, August 26th, slope reinforcement work began, requiring closure of the pedestrian/bike trail between P Street and the pedestrian bridge over Rock Creek. Work will continue for six weeks.  Pedestrians and bicyclists should use caution and follow the detour.  Bicyclists will need to dismount and walk their bike.

Road closures for Park Maintenance

Beach Drive will be closed from Bingham Drive NW to Wise Road NW through Wednesday, September 11, between the hours of 9:30 am and 2:30 pm for tree maintenance work. 

Sherrill Drive will be closed from Beach Drive to 16th Street through Wednesday, September 11, between the hours of 9:30 am and 2:30 pm for tree maintenance work.

Beach Drive will be closed from Wise Road NW to Sherrill Drive NW from Thursday, September 12 and Friday, September 13, between the hours of 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for tree maintenance work.

Navy-Air Force Half Marathon

The Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway will be closed from 5:50 am until 11:00 am Saturday, September 14, 2013 for the Navy-Air Force Half Marathon. Closures will be in place at the north end of the parkway where Beach Drive enters the parkway and continue for the entire length of the roadway. Travelers heading southbound on Beach Drive will be diverted to Connecticut Avenue.

National Capital Parks East

Suitland Parkway Utility Repairs

PEPCO continues to work on upgrading the underground electrical lines along Suitland Parkway. Several work zones are located on the outbound shoulder of Suitland Parkway. Commuters are asked to use caution near the work zones and watch for construction vehicles entering and leaving the area. Current activities include installing silt fence, stone and construction signs. PEPCO will remove and replace the conduit over the next several months.

TRAFFIC CONTROL – LANE CLOSURES

On Wednesday, September 11, expect single lane closures on westbound Suitland Parkway between Suitland Road and Meadowview Drive between the hours of 9:00 am and 7:00 pm for underground utility upgrades.  One lane of traffic will remain open during the work period.

C&O Canal National Historical Park

D.C. Repair work for Arizona Avenue Bridge N.W.  DC 

On Saturday, September 14 and Sunday, September 15, expect single-lane closures on Canal Road between Arizona Avenue and Clara Barton Parkway at the Arizona Avenue Bridge.  Work will be conducted between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm for completion of punch-list items and minor bridge painting.  One lane will be open to traffic during the work period. 

Clara Barton Parkway

D.C. Water Odor Abatement Project at Little Falls Pumping Station 

D.C. Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) continues to work along the Clara Barton Parkway on one of the odor abatement facilities for the Potomac Interceptor.  The location of this facility is approximately three miles outbound from Chain Bridge.  At all times motorists should be alert to construction vehicles entering and exiting onto the Clara Barton Parkway from the adjacent construction site at the Little Falls pumping station. 

George Washington Memorial Parkway

Parkway Traffic and Safety Improvements

The George Washington Memorial Parkway, in consultation with the Federal Highway Administration, will be temporarily installing a flashing beacon warning system at the trail crosswalk of the northbound lanes of the Parkway just prior to Arlington Memorial Bridge, one mile north of I-395. The temporary installation is planned to be in place for approximately thirty days as a trial to help inform the upcoming environmental assessment process that will evaluate long-term safety and traffic improvements in the area.

The warning system is designed for bicyclists and pedestrians who want to cross the Parkway and to alert motorists of the presence of trail users.  Trail users can activate the flashing beacon and notify motorists of their intention to cross the Parkway.  The purpose is to improve safety and increase awareness by slowing down traffic when pedestrians and bicyclists want to cross the Parkway.

Due to manufacturing delays, the installation of the flashing beacon warning system at the trail crosswalk of the northbound lanes of the George Washington Memorial Parkway just prior to Arlington Memorial Bridge will be postponed for approximately forty-five to sixty days. More information will follow when the installation date is finalized.

TRAFFIC CONTROL – LANE CLOSURES

On Tuesday, September 10, expect single lane closures at the northbound on-ramp to George Washington Memorial Parkway at Rosslyn Bridge for bridge maintenance.  Work will be conducted between the hours of 10:00 am and 2:30 pm on both days.  One lane of traffic access to northbound parkway will remain open during the work period.

Road work continues along neighboring side roads of the George Washington Memorial Parkway:

East Boulevard Drive, West Boulevard Drive and Northdown Road

TRAFFIC CONTROL – LANE CLOSURES

No work is anticipated for East Boulevard Drive, West Boulevard Drive and Northdown Road.   

Bridge Reconstruction work continues on Mount Vernon Trail (bridges 13, 14, 20, 21 and 22) 

Trail work continues adjacent to Bridges 20, 21 and 22 between Morningside Lane and Tulane Lane.  Work on Bridge 13 has begun as well.  Please follow the detours at the various work zones. Signage will be placed at all work zones to route trail traffic.  Reconstruction at Bridge 14 between Waynewood Boulevard and Collingwood Road will follow. The project began on April 8, 2013 and will last for several months, Monday through Friday. 

George Washington Memorial Parkway at Interstate 395

Virginia Department of Transportation contractors will be performing night work on the right northbound lane between the hours of 10:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m., Monday through Friday. This concrete surface repair and rehabilitation work on the overpass bridges impacting the George Washington Memorial Parkway will see a lane closed during the night.  Repair work will continue through the winter while lane closures will change as work progress moves.  Motorists are encouraged to watch for directional signs and exit ramp yielding at night.

Verizon Work In Median of George Washington Memorial Parkway and East Abingdon Drive between Slaters Lane and City of Alexandria

Starting Wednesday, September 11 to Friday, October 4, Verizon contractors (S&N Communications) will be closing Left travel lanes Northbound and Southbound in the median of the George Washington Memorial Parkway and one Right lane on East Abingdon Drive to allow room for equipment and crews to install fiber optic conduit in the median.

Intersections at Bashford Lane and Slaters Lane may be affected as traffic flow around the work zones may be altered. Traffic should not be affected during rush hour times of:

Morning Inbound Northbound 5:00 AM to 9:30 AM

Afternoon Outbound Southbound 2:30 PM to 7:00 PM

Motorists navigating the area should watch for flaggers, directional arrow boards, cones, and utility trucks in the work zone.