CONTACTS:
Chanda Washington (EOM) – (202) 727-5011; [email protected]
Michelle Phipps-Evans (DDOT) – (202) 497-0124; [email protected]
(WASHINGTON, DC) Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced the early opening of the 16th Street Bridge over Military Road, NW. The newly constructed bridge, part of a larger project to improve transportation infrastructure in the surrounding area, was completed and reopened two weeks earlier than initially scheduled. Traffic has been using all travel lanes on the bridge since 7 a.m. yesterday.
“From day one, my Administration has been working hard to ensure that the District’s transportation infrastructure remains safe and reliable,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser. “Through innovative technology and design, Leif Dormsjo and the team at the Department of Transportation built a high quality, safe and long-lasting bridge—just in time for the holiday weekend.”
The overall project was originally anticipated to take approximately 11 months to complete. Significant long-term lane reductions at 16th Street were expected to last approximately 4 months. In an effort to reduce the time of construction, and impacts to residents and travelers, DDOT executed a process called accelerated bridge construction, in which large pieces of the bridge were constructed off-site and then transported to the worksite for installation. This cut time off construction activities by six months.
In addition to the bridge reconstruction, DDOT is making several improvements to the area around 16th Street and Military Road, including rebuilding roadways, installing new drainage infrastructure and new stone-faced median barrier along Military Road, and upgrading traffic signals and street lights. The final phase of this project is expected to wrap up by the end of August, a full six months ahead of schedule.
Travelers should expect short-term, off-peak lane closures so that DDOT can complete the remaining work. There will be ongoing single-lane closures on northbound and southbound 16th Street NW and eastbound and westbound Military Road, NW between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
DDOT will continue to inform the public of any lane closures and changes as they occur.
For more information and updates on the 16th Street Bridge construction, please visit the project website www.16thandmilitary.com or www.ddot.dc.gov