clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Mapping The Most Cringeworthy Intersections in D.C.

View as Map

[Photo by Flickr user NCinDC]

The one way streets are frustrating, the traffic circles are ubiquitous and irritatingly enough, those aren't the worst things about commuting in D.C. Ignoring how residents within city lines may feel about drivers from neighboring states for a second, the plethora of diagonal streets come to a lot of unfortunate intersections with weird dips, quick turns and several blind spots. Curbed previously spotlighted five of the worst intersections, but multiple readers recommended several others that came up regularly in accident reports or caused them personal hell. Consider the map below a guide of spots to avoid while commuting unless it really cannot be helped.


· Driving Hell: Investigating The Worst Intersections In D.C. [CDC]

Read More
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Dave Thomas Circle

Copy Link

This headache is so bad that DDOT is considering a fix for this not-actually-a-traffic circle in front of the Sirius-XM building. It is argued by many to be the worst intersection in the city.

Columbus Plaza

Copy Link

It's slightly better than it was when this article was released but it's still a nightmare for cyclists and pedestrians. As for drivers, they'd better hope they're in the correct lane.

Missouri & Georgia Avenue NW

Copy Link

The issue isn't just that Missouri Avenue hits Georgia at a curve, which is terrifying all on its own. The other problem is that due to timing, anyone approaching Georgia from Missouri will probably sit there for awhile.

14th Street, Park Road & Kenyon Avenue NW

Copy Link

Although several readers nominated the 14th & Irving intersection due to the plethora of pedestrians entering and exiting the metro station and the painfully slow crawl across 14th Street for drivers on Irving, the award for crappiest Columbia Heights intersection goes to this nonsensical and frightening five points spot.

Blair Road, 4th Street and Cedar Street NW

Copy Link

The issue is not just that this is a five points intersection (which just suck on the whole) but that some of the left turns (and even right turns) leave huge blind spots. It's shocking there aren't more accidents here.

West Virginia, Montana and New York Avenue NE

Copy Link

This has been the Curbed editorial team's most terrifying discovery since the previous list. This mini-traffic circle not only stops traffic for several blocks back during the heavy traffic hours, but it's extraordinarily easy for drivers to realize a minute too late that they really meant to be in a different lane. The signage is that unclear. And if you're a cyclist or pedestrian, just avoid this one at all costs.

North Capitol Street & New York Avenue

Copy Link

Seriously, screw this intersection. This bottleneck is the most visible way to get from points north to I-395, so no matter the day or the time of day, the right turn lanes are backed up for four blocks and twenty minutes. Forget turning on red because due to the angle of the street, it's difficult to see what's barreling down New York Avenue. It's no safer for pedestrians who want to cross New York Avenue.

13th Street, New York Avenue & H Street NW

Copy Link

There are no good places for horribly designed intersections, but the middle of the financial sector has got to be one of the worst. H Street comes at New York Avenue at a curve, so, hello blind spots. As a cyclist, it's equally frustrating.

New Jersey Avenue, Rhode Island Avenue, Florida Avenue & S Street NW

Copy Link

Four streets, and four generally busy ones at that all converge in Shaw in this intersection of doom. This sort of problem should not exist and certainly shouldn't exist without a traffic circle.

Pennsylvania Avenue, 25th Street & Minnesota Avenue SE

Copy Link

The "good" news about this hellish intersection is that 25th Street is a one-way street. More than one Curbed reader pointed out this space which also gets negative points for the number of people going into and out of that gas station. What a scary place for a Bikeshare station.

15th & Maine Street SW

Copy Link

Nothing about this intersection is okay except the view of the Potomac and the Jefferson Memorial. Then again, that just adds to the problem as inexperienced tourists do that en masse and by the way, there's a freeway entrance here. This visual alone should demonstrate the problem with the intersection.

11th & M Street SE

Copy Link

Come to think of it, many of the streets where entrances and exits onto the highway are involved are just awful. Getting onto the highway from the Southwest DMV should probably be preceded by a McDonald's break and the entrance onto I-395 in Mt Vernon Triangle is a headache, but readers, you nominated this one and rightfully so.

Good Hope Road, Naylor Avenue & 25th Street SE

Copy Link

What genius decided that this would be a good idea? The split between two of Southeast D.C.'s biggest roads might not be such a problem, but then you bring 25th Street's dead end into the equation and it's a headache.

East Capitol Street & Benning Road SE

Copy Link

East Capitol Street is not a fun road at almost any point in its trajectory. Other streets intersect at odd angles and it's punctuated by more than one giant park. However, with Benning Road turning sharply and hitting it out of nowhere, this is probably the worst part of the street.

H Street, 3rd Street & Massachusetts Avenue NW

Copy Link

It's the unofficial gateway between Northeast and Northwest, but it's also right by an entrance onto I-395. Pretty much the only thing to be said about this intersection for motorists is that the signage is helpful. However, if you're a cyclist or a pedestrian, just find another way. It's also wizardry that Google Street View shot this spot with no cars because that NEVER happens.

Loading comments...

Dave Thomas Circle

This headache is so bad that DDOT is considering a fix for this not-actually-a-traffic circle in front of the Sirius-XM building. It is argued by many to be the worst intersection in the city.

Columbus Plaza

It's slightly better than it was when this article was released but it's still a nightmare for cyclists and pedestrians. As for drivers, they'd better hope they're in the correct lane.

Missouri & Georgia Avenue NW

The issue isn't just that Missouri Avenue hits Georgia at a curve, which is terrifying all on its own. The other problem is that due to timing, anyone approaching Georgia from Missouri will probably sit there for awhile.

14th Street, Park Road & Kenyon Avenue NW

Although several readers nominated the 14th & Irving intersection due to the plethora of pedestrians entering and exiting the metro station and the painfully slow crawl across 14th Street for drivers on Irving, the award for crappiest Columbia Heights intersection goes to this nonsensical and frightening five points spot.

Blair Road, 4th Street and Cedar Street NW

The issue is not just that this is a five points intersection (which just suck on the whole) but that some of the left turns (and even right turns) leave huge blind spots. It's shocking there aren't more accidents here.

West Virginia, Montana and New York Avenue NE

This has been the Curbed editorial team's most terrifying discovery since the previous list. This mini-traffic circle not only stops traffic for several blocks back during the heavy traffic hours, but it's extraordinarily easy for drivers to realize a minute too late that they really meant to be in a different lane. The signage is that unclear. And if you're a cyclist or pedestrian, just avoid this one at all costs.

North Capitol Street & New York Avenue

Seriously, screw this intersection. This bottleneck is the most visible way to get from points north to I-395, so no matter the day or the time of day, the right turn lanes are backed up for four blocks and twenty minutes. Forget turning on red because due to the angle of the street, it's difficult to see what's barreling down New York Avenue. It's no safer for pedestrians who want to cross New York Avenue.

13th Street, New York Avenue & H Street NW

There are no good places for horribly designed intersections, but the middle of the financial sector has got to be one of the worst. H Street comes at New York Avenue at a curve, so, hello blind spots. As a cyclist, it's equally frustrating.

New Jersey Avenue, Rhode Island Avenue, Florida Avenue & S Street NW

Four streets, and four generally busy ones at that all converge in Shaw in this intersection of doom. This sort of problem should not exist and certainly shouldn't exist without a traffic circle.

Pennsylvania Avenue, 25th Street & Minnesota Avenue SE

The "good" news about this hellish intersection is that 25th Street is a one-way street. More than one Curbed reader pointed out this space which also gets negative points for the number of people going into and out of that gas station. What a scary place for a Bikeshare station.

15th & Maine Street SW

Nothing about this intersection is okay except the view of the Potomac and the Jefferson Memorial. Then again, that just adds to the problem as inexperienced tourists do that en masse and by the way, there's a freeway entrance here. This visual alone should demonstrate the problem with the intersection.

11th & M Street SE

Come to think of it, many of the streets where entrances and exits onto the highway are involved are just awful. Getting onto the highway from the Southwest DMV should probably be preceded by a McDonald's break and the entrance onto I-395 in Mt Vernon Triangle is a headache, but readers, you nominated this one and rightfully so.

Good Hope Road, Naylor Avenue & 25th Street SE

What genius decided that this would be a good idea? The split between two of Southeast D.C.'s biggest roads might not be such a problem, but then you bring 25th Street's dead end into the equation and it's a headache.

East Capitol Street & Benning Road SE

East Capitol Street is not a fun road at almost any point in its trajectory. Other streets intersect at odd angles and it's punctuated by more than one giant park. However, with Benning Road turning sharply and hitting it out of nowhere, this is probably the worst part of the street.

H Street, 3rd Street & Massachusetts Avenue NW

It's the unofficial gateway between Northeast and Northwest, but it's also right by an entrance onto I-395. Pretty much the only thing to be said about this intersection for motorists is that the signage is helpful. However, if you're a cyclist or a pedestrian, just find another way. It's also wizardry that Google Street View shot this spot with no cars because that NEVER happens.