City begins New Jersey Avenue NW traffic safety improvements

D.C. has kicked off construction on a long-planned road and streetscape project on the east edge of Mount Vernon Triangle. The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) began work on New Jersey Avenue NW traffic safety changes—from H to N streets NW—Monday.

The street redesign has been more than a decade in the making and is expected to be done by fall 2020. The plans call for new bike lanes, fresh sidewalks, and highly visible crosswalks in addition to new street lights, updated traffic signals, and repaved roads. Between New York Avenue NW and K Street NW, New Jersey Avenue NW will be changed from a one- to a two-way car roadway. Several adjacent blocks of New York Avenue NW will also be reconstructed.

District Department of Transportation

In a release, DDOT says temporary lane closures on New Jersey Avenue NW are set to begin “on or about” May 27, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. “Work may also occur on Saturdays between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m,” the department explains, continuing:

During the construction work on New York Avenue NW, two lanes of traffic will be maintained in both directions at all times. At least one southbound lane of New Jersey Ave[nue] NW to New York Avenue NW will be maintained at all times during construction. A through lane on northbound New Jersey Avenue and one right turn lane onto New York Avenue NW will be maintained at all times. ... Motorists should anticipate delays due to the shifting traffic patterns [during the asphalt resurfacing work].

District Department of Transportation

Transportation advocates took note of the news, urging DDOT to keep non-car travelers safe.