(Washington, DC) A new traffic configuration will be in place for morning commuters on Monday, April 4. Phase 6 of the 14th Street Bridge Rehabilitation Project will close about half of the left center lane on the north end of the bridge. As with previous phases (2 and 3), 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 — one lane to the left and three lanes to the right (see graphic below).

Phase 6 kicks off the three remaining phases of the surface work. Phases 7 and 8 will follow.

Staging for Phase 6 of construction will require closure of the left shoulder lane (currently closed) of the bridge from 10 pm on Friday, April 1 through 5 am on Monday, April 4. Three lanes of traffic will be maintained across the bridge throughout the weekend. Four lanes will be restored and the new traffic pattern will be in place by 5 am on Monday.

Key Impacts of Phase 6:

• Shorter Merging Distances: With the center lane of the bridge under construction, motorists will have a shorter distance (approximately 1/8 mile) to change lanes to get to their exits.
• Barrier blocks will be in the center lane on the north half of the bridge with 1 lane routed to the left, and 3 lanes routed to the right. This will affect:
  • Motorists entering from northbound GW Parkway and moving left to exit onto 14th Street
  • Motorists continuing to northbound I-395 from the left lanes of the bridge.
• Drivers are advised to keep left if exiting onto 14th Street and keep right if continuing on 395N

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

Phase 6 and subsequent surface phases are anticipated to last six to eight weeks each.

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 at ddot.dc.gov.

To download a high resolution Phase 6 graphic and view all phases, please visit www.14streetbridgeconstruction.com .

Follow us on Twitter! @14thStBridge .

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