(Washington, DC) – The 11th Street Bridge Project, the District Department of Transportation’s (DDOT) largest project to date, is nearing the substantial completion of Phase 1 and beginning the Project Completion Phase (Phase 2). Phase 2 will further improve connections between the SE/SW Freeway and the new 11th Street Bridges, and reconnect local streets on the west side of the Anacostia River. It will also lay the groundwork for the replacement of the SE/SW Freeway with an at-grade boulevard between 8th Street, SE and Barney Circle.

Phase 2 – Project Completion Phase

Phase 2 is on the Capitol Hill/Navy Yard side of the Anacostia River and includes replacing the 2-lane outbound 11th Street Flyover Bridge over the SE/SW Freeway with a new 3-lane bridge structure. This new elevated span will lead to the I-695 Outbound Freeway Bridge.

The SE Freeway between 8th Street, SE and 13th Street, SE will be raised about 20 feet and re-designated to a Boulevard, while 12th Street will also be extended from M Street to connect to the new Boulevard. This work is part of the $90M Phase 2 work and will set the stage for the future Barney Circle Project which is an element of the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative (AWI) Master Plan and Vision.

The 11th Street Bridge over the SE/SW Freeway will be removed when the fill is completed and the bridge will become an at grade roadway with both on and off ramps from the Boulevard and SE/SW Freeway. One of the new off-ramps will be from eastbound I-695 (SE/SW Freeway) to 11th Street which will allow for more direct access to Historic Anacostia via the 11th Street Local Bridge.

To facilitate this work, Starting on or about Monday, September 17, a series of on-going traffic pattern changes will be required along the SE/SW Freeway.

Following the morning rush hour period, the westbound SE Freeway between Barney Circle (Pennsylvania Avenue) and 8th Street, SE will be reduced to a single lane. By November this westbound stretch will be completely closed and by January 2013 the eastbound lanes will also be closed.

The full closure of the SE Freeway will remain in place for approximately 18 to 20 months while crews fill the roadway to restore it to the local street elevation.

Motorists are advised to begin using the new I-695 Inbound Freeway Bridge from southbound DC-295 to reach the SE/SW Freeway and I-395 and to avoid possible commute delays and traffic congestion.

In addition, motorists are advised vehicles will no longer be permitted to turn left from southbound 17th Street, SE to reach the restricted access lanes under Barney Circle that lead to the SE/SW Freeway. A new barricade will prevent this maneuver beginning on or about Monday, September 17.

Phase 1 – Update

Phase 1 of the 11th Street Bridge Project remains on track to be substantially completed by the end of 2012, meaning all remaining ramps, interstate lanes and local roadways will be open to traffic, as designed.

As part of the $300 million Phase 1 work, a new interstate connection from southbound DC-295 to inbound I-695 opened in July and the remaining missing freeway connection—between the I-695 Outbound Freeway Bridge and northbound DC-295—is scheduled to open by Thanksgiving.

A new off-ramp from northbound I-295 to the local 11th Street Bridge is scheduled to open by the end of September. This will allow Navy Yard morning rush-hour commuters coming from Suitland Parkway and northbound I-295 with more of a direct route to their facility as well as local traffic direct access to Historic Anacostia. Traffic will exit on the Anacostia side of the River, travel across the 11th Local Street Bridge and enter the Navy Yard at the O Street Gate.

A new on-ramp from 11th Street to the westbound SE/SW Freeway will also open by Thanksgiving . This will greatly improve traffic flow through Capitol Hill by providing a second access point to the Freeway other than the 3rd Street, SE on-ramp and will also provide more direct access to the Freeway for Anacostia residents using the 11th Street Local Bridge.

For more information and to follow the bridge project and AWI Program’s progress, please visit www.anacostiawaterfront.org/11thStreetBridge . To join the project or AWI community contact list or ask questions, please email ddot.awi@dc.gov or call (202) 741-8528.