Mayor Gray Celebrates Completion of Adams Morgan Streetscape Project

(WASHINGTON, DC) -- Mayor Vincent C. Gray, Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham, District Department of Transportation (DDOT) Director Terry Bellamy and Adams Morgan business owners and residents today celebrated the completion of the 18th Street Streetscape Project.  The 17-month, $6.8 million project completely reconstructed and reconfigured the public space in one of the District’s busiest commercial areas.

“If you have not been to Adams Morgan recently, you might not recognize it. 18th Street has undergone an extreme makeover and the results are remarkable,” said Mayor Gray. “The new roadway, the wider sidewalks, the safer crosswalks – all of the upgrades support the local businesses in this great community and will help attract new customers.”

DDOT reconstructed a half-mile stretch of 18th Street NW (between Florida Avenue NW and Columbia Road NW), adding shared bicycle lanes, 59 new trees, 71 new bike racks and wider sidewalks allowing more room for pedestrians and outdoor café seating.

Additional improvements include 32 Washington Globe street lights; 16 pendant pole lights at the intersections; 47 ADA-compliant sidewalk wheelchair ramps; wide bump-outs and pedestrian gathering islands, a reconfigured intersection at 18th Street and Florida Avenue that will improve safety for all users; 4,868 feet of granite curbs and brick gutters; garbage cans and recycling cans with solar-powered compactors; and larger storm-drain inlets.

Critical infrastructure upgrades were made underground as well, including a new 12-inch water main, new gas and water service connections to every address, and new electrical and communications connections to streetlights and traffic signals.

“We want to thank the business community and the residents of Adams Morgan for their patience and their support before and during this project,” said Director Bellamy. “This was a project we all knew was going to be disruptive, but it needed to be done, and hopefully now they will reap the benefits from the improved infrastructure.”

DDOT coordinated the project schedule with the Adams Morgan Partnership Business Improvement District (BID) and the Adams Morgan Main Street Group, opened an on-site field office and hired a full-time community-relations liaison to keep residents and business owners apprised of the project’s progress.
“Adams Morgan's 18th Street corridor was long overdue for an infrastructure upgrade. The wider sidewalks, new globe lights, pedestrian crosswalks and clear lane markings for bikers and pedestrians along with many underground utility improvements will make it easier to enjoy the great restaurants and shops that we have to offer,” said Kristen Barden, Executive Director of the Adams Morgan Partnership BID. “Throughout the entire Streetscape project, the Adams Morgan Partnership BID worked hard to help coordinate the work of the District Department of Transportation and all the utility companies and to respond to any concerns from business owners. It was really important to maintain clear lines of communication on both ends. Although this project was very intricate and performed in a high-density area, it was completed quickly.”

For more information about the work on 18th Street, please visit the project website at www.adamsmorganstreetscapeproject.com.