DC to start project at New York/Florida avenues

Among the difficult points on a difficult commute in the New York Avenue corridor, the zone where New York Avenue, Florida Avenue, Eckington Place and First Street blend stands out. It's got a bad case of the slows for people coming from all directions.

Next week, the District Department of Transportation is scheduled to start a $3.8 million project designed to fix circulation and traffic safety problems in that Northeast Washington area. It's one of five New York Avenue corridor projects that should ultimately help the commute. But meanwhile, the overall construction impact is likely to be significant.

The District has a new Web site for information about the overall plan: www.fixingnewyorkave.com

The work scheduled to start next week is scheduled to last eight months. It includes resurfacing of streets, realignment of the curbs, upgrading of street lighting and traffic signals, new landscaping, rebuilding sidewalks, pedestrian islands and medians. New signs and lane markings will be installed with the goal of improving safety for drivers, walkers and cyclists.

Construction Impact
DDOT says none of the work will be done during rush hours. But you will see this over the next eight months:
-- Work from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on First Street.
-- Work on New York and Florida avenues between 7 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. (No daytime lane closures on the avenues on weekdays between 5:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.)
-- Milling and resurfacing from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.

Here's a map of that area:

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