(Washington, DC) The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced a new traffic configuration will be in place for morning commuters on Wednesday, June 8. Phase 8 of the 14th Street Bridge Rehabilitation Project—the final phase of surface rehabilitation—will close about half of the right center lane on the north end of the bridge. Similar to phases 6 and 7, there will be an “island of construction” to navigate around. Lanes will be split and traffic will be routed on both sides of the construction barriers—3 lanes to the left and 1 lane to the right (see graphic below).

Staging for Phase 8 of construction will require a closure of the left center lane (currently closed) and right center lane of the bridge starting at 10 pm on Tuesday, June 7, 2011 through 5 am on Wednesday, June 8, 2011. Three lanes of traffic will be maintained across the bridge throughout the night. Four lanes will be restored and the new traffic pattern will be in place by 5 am on Wednesday, June 8.

Key Impacts of Phase 8:

• Motorists entering from northbound GW Parkway and moving left to exit onto 14th Street will have a short merging distance.
  • Consider using the 12th Street Expressway as an alternate.
• Barrier blocks will be in the right center lane on the north half of the bridge with three lanes routed to the left and one lane routed to the right.
• Drivers are advised to keep to the far left lane if exiting onto 14th Street and keep to the center lanes or far right lane if continuing on I-395N.

All drivers will need to use extra caution and stay alert.

Phase 8 is anticipated to last six to eight weeks, thus completing the surface rehabilitation portion of the project.

The surface work on the bridge remains on-time in anticipation of a fall 2011 end date.

For more information on the 14th Street Bridge Rehabilitation Project, please visit the DDOT website.

To download a high resolution Phase 8 graphic and view all phases, please visit www.14streetbridgeconstruction.com .

Follow us on Twitter! @14thStBridge .

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For additional traffic advisories please visit DDOT’s Traffic Alerts page or
visit goDCgo.com  for more information on transportation options in the District