DDOT Traffic Advisory: Temporary Lane Closures for I-295 Corridor Improvement Projects fromOctober 4 through October 11, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2021 

Media Contacts:

Mariam Nabizad – (202) 359-2678, mariam.nabizad@dc.gov  

Temporary Lane Closures for I-295 Corridor Improvement Projects fromOctober 4 through October 11, 2021

(Washington, D.C.) - The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will temporarily close roadways, lanes, ramps and shoulders on the following corridors to perform construction activities along I-295 / DC 295 and nearby local roads. These closures are contingent on suitable weather, field conditions, and/or adjacent construction activities.

Daily closures will take place between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Nightly closures will take place between 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. the following day (unless otherwise stated below).

Due to the scheduled Washington Spirit game at Audi Field, nighttime lane closures will not occur on Saturday, October 9 until after 10:30 p.m. If any of these games are cancelled, daily and nightly closures will occur during the typical times. Additionally, any nighttime full roadway closures that are prohibited on these game days, will take place in the event of a game cancellation.

Single left or right lane closures will occur anytime daily and nightly on northbound and southbound I-295 between Exit 1 (Laboratory Road / US Naval Research Lab) and I-695. On northbound I-295, there will be no closures during the weekday AM peak period; and on southbound I-295, there will be no closures during the PM weekday peak period. Double left or right lane closures will occur nightly, starting at 9:00 p.m., until the following morning. Double lane closures will also occur over the weekend, starting at 5.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m.

Single left or right lane closures will occur daily and nightly in both directions on South Capitol Street SE/SW between Firth Sterling Avenue SE and N Street SE and on Suitland Parkway SE between the Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue SE overpass and South Capitol Street SE. These single lane closures along these roadways will take place during off-peak hours. Double left or right lane closures will only occur nightly, starting at 9:00 p.m., until the following morning. 

Multiple FDMB bridge closures (15-minute traffic stoppages) will be implemented in both directions of South Capitol Street weeknights continuing through October 6, 2021, between 9:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

No other closures on South Capitol Street SE/SW or Suitland Parkway SE will take place on weekdays between 6:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. and between 3:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Daily and nightly single lane closures will also occur anytime during off-peak hours on Firth Sterling Avenue SE, and Howard Road SE.  Daily and nightly single lane closures will also occur anytime on Potomac Avenue SE/SW, Half Street SW, Barry Road SE, St. Elizabeths Avenue SE, R St. SW and Malcolm X Avenue SE.

The following full ramp closures will also occur during off-peak hours:

• Exit 4 from I-295 Northbound (South Capitol Street / Suitland Parkway)
• Exit 4 from I-295 Southbound (South Capitol Street / Suitland Parkway)
• I-295 Northbound On-ramp from northbound Firth Sterling Avenue SE
• Ramp from South Capitol Street / MLK Jr. Avenue to I-295 Northbound (continuously)

Howard Road SE between Firth Sterling Avenue SE and the access to the WMATA Parking Garage will be closed Monday, October 4 to Monday, October 11 nightly between 8:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. the following morning, as shown in the graphic. Pedestrian access will be continuously maintained.  Access to and from the WMATA Parking Garage will be continuously maintained.  When Howard Road SE is fully closed, Suitland Parkway SE will remain open to all traffic. A marked detour will be in place during these closures.

Howard Road SE Closure & Detour

Suitland Parkway SE between Firth Sterling Avenue SE and South Capitol Street SE will be closed Saturday, October 9 between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. as shown in the graphic.  This will include the closure of Exit 4A from I-295 Southbound to outbound Suitland Parkway SE and the restriction of left turns from the new Exit 4 from I-295 Northbound to Suitland Parkway SE and South Capitol Street SE. When Suitland Parkway SE is fully closed, Firth Sterling Avenue SE and South Capitol Street SE will remain open to all traffic. All lanes on Suitland Parkway SE will be open to traffic prior to the start of any full closure of Howard Road SE. A marked detour will be in place during these closures.

Suitland Parkway Closure & Detour

These closures are required for construction activities associated with the following DDOT projects:

South Capitol Street Corridor Project - Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge

The South Capitol Street Corridor Project calls for replacing the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge and transforming related sections of the urban freeway into a beautiful scenic boulevard that increases pedestrian and vehicular safety, improves multimodal transportation options, increases community accessibility, and supports economic development on both sides of the Anacostia River.

I-295 / Malcolm X Avenue SE Interchange Improvement Project

The multiple phases of this project include the reconstruction of the I-295 interchange with Malcolm X Avenue SE, including modified ramps and a new access roadway to the St. Elizabeth’s West Campus. The planned improvements will be made between Firth Sterling Avenue SE, on the north, and the South Capitol Street/Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue SE intersection to the south. The project will provide transportation improvements to serve the proposed Department of Homeland Security headquarters consolidation on the St. Elizabeth’s West Campus.

Traffic controls will be in place to guide all users of the roadway through the work zones safely. Motorists should expect delays due to the lane closures and are advised to stay alert and be observant of signage and road work crews while traveling in this area.

For more information about efforts to improve the 295 corridors and to stay up-to-date on traffic related impacts and construction progress, please visit www.improving295dc.com.

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