(Washington, DC) The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced a new traffic configuration will be in place for morning commuters on Thursday, May 12, 2011. Phase 7 of the 14th Street Bridge Rehabilitation Project will close about half of the right center lane on the north end of the bridge. As with phase 6, 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 – 2 lane to the left and 2 lanes to the right (see graphic below).

Staging for Phase 7 of construction will require closure of the left center lane (currently closed) and right center lane of the bridge from 10 pm on Wednesday, May 11 through 5 am on Thursday, May 12. 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 Thursday.

Key Impacts of Phase 7:

• 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 2 lanes routed to the left and 2 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 7 and the next phase (final phase of surface rehabilitation) 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.

To download a high resolution Phase 7 graphic and view all phases, please visit www.14streetbridgeconstruction.com .

Follow us on Twitter! @14thStBridge .

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