Major street redesign in Capitol Hill set to begin June 10 and take two years

Several blocks in Capitol Hill and near the H Street NE corridor stretching from the Supreme Court building to 14th Street NE are about to go on a serious road diet. Planning officials say construction work on Maryland Avenue NE and around Stanton Park will commence June 10 and is scheduled to last until summer 2021, sparking traffic changes and parking restrictions.

“The project will improve the safety of Maryland Avenue, between 2nd Street NE to 14th Street NE by reducing the number of traffic lanes from four to two, adding bicycle lanes, and curb extensions to reduce the length of the pedestrian crossings, upgrading wheelchair ramps, and improving the traffic signal operations,” explains the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) in a release. Fort Myer Construction is the project contractor and work is permitted for Mondays through Fridays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., according to DDOT.

The department adds that drivers “should anticipate delays due to shifting traffic patterns” during the project. For years, neighbors and bike advocates have said the current design of Maryland Avenue NE encourages drivers—many of whom commute to and from other parts of Northeast and Maryland—to speed through residential areas. A number of public schools and parks, in addition to the Northeast Neighborhood Library, are located near the corridor.

Some 11,000 vehicles traverse Maryland Avenue NE daily, according to DDOT. The project is hoped to reduce crashes and fatalities as part of the District’s s Vision Zero initiative, started in 2015. A map of the project area as well as concept designs and renderings are shown here:

District Department of Transportation

District Department of Transportation

District Department of Transportation

District Department of Transportation

District Department of Transportation