(Washington, D.C.) -The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will temporarily close roadways, lanes, ramps and shoulders on the following corridors to perform construction activities along I-295 / DC 295 and nearby local roads beginning December 20 through December 23 2021, weather permitting. 

These closures are not only contingent on suitable weather, but also field conditions, and/or adjacent construction activities. Daily closures will take place between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Nightly closures will take place between 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. the following day (unless otherwise stated below).  All lane closures will be removed by 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 23.

Single left or right lane closures will occur anytime daily and nightly on northbound and southbound I-295 between Exit 1 (Laboratory Road / US Naval Research Lab) and I-695. On northbound I-295, there will be no closures during the weekday AM peak period; and on southbound I-295, there will be no closures during the PM weekday peak period. Double left or right lane closures will occur nightly, starting at 8:00 p.m., until the following morning.

Single left or right lane closures will occur daily and nightly in both directions on South Capitol Street SE/SW between Firth Sterling Avenue SE and N Street SE.  Single lane closures will take place during weekday off-peak hours, and during the weekend from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. 

Single left or right lane closures will occur daily and nightly in both directions Suitland Parkway SE between the Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue SE overpass and South Capitol Street SE. These single lane closures along these roadways will take place during off-peak hours. Double left or right lane closures will only occur nightly, starting at 9:00 p.m., until the following morning. 

No other closures on South Capitol Street SE/SW or Suitland Parkway SE will take place on weekdays between 5:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. and between 3:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Daily and nightly single lane closures will also occur anytime during off-peak hours on Firth Sterling Avenue SE, and Howard Road SE.  Daily and nightly single lane closures will also occur anytime on Potomac Avenue SE/SW, Half Street SW, Barry Road SE, St. Elizabeths Avenue SE, R St. SW and Malcolm X Avenue SE.

The following full ramp closures will also occur during off-peak hours:

• Exit 4 from I-295 Northbound (South Capitol Street / Suitland Parkway)

• Exit 4 from I-295 Southbound (South Capitol Street / Suitland Parkway)

• I-295 Northbound On-ramp from northbound Firth Sterling Avenue SE

• Ramp from South Capitol Street / MLK Jr. Avenue to I-295 Northbound (continuously)

These closures are required for construction activities associated with the following DDOT projects:

South Capitol Street Corridor Project - Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge

The South Capitol Street Corridor Project calls for replacing the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge and transforming related sections of the urban freeway into a beautiful scenic boulevard that increases pedestrian and vehicular safety, improves multimodal transportation options, increases community accessibility, and supports economic development on both sides of the Anacostia River.

I-295 / Malcolm X Avenue SE Interchange Improvement Project

The multiple phases of this project include the reconstruction of the I-295 interchange with Malcolm X Avenue SE, including modified ramps and a new access roadway to the St. Elizabeth’s West Campus. The planned improvements will be made between Firth Sterling Avenue SE, on the north, and the South Capitol Street/Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue SE intersection to the south. The project will provide transportation improvements to serve the proposed Department of Homeland Security headquarters consolidation on the St. Elizabeth’s West Campus.

Traffic controls will be in place to guide all users of the roadway through the work zones safely. Motorists should expect delays due to the lane closures and are advised to stay alert and be observant of signage and road work crews while traveling in this area.

For more information about efforts to improve the 295 corridors and to stay up-to-date on traffic related impacts and construction progress, please visit www.improving295dc.com.