Earlier today, the DC Department of Transportation annouced their summer "Extreme Makeover" for the Frederick Douglass bridge and South Capitol Street connection. While its not likely to make it on prime time television during sweeps week, DDOT is currently working on a massive and radical makeover of the bridge. As residents and commuters are already experiencing, work has begun with weekend closures of some lanes, but the bridge will be shut down completely beginning July 6th with work expected to be wrapped by late August.

To highlight the plans, DDOT showed a snazzy video (which we hope will be made available online soon) using graphics and renderings to show the anticipated changes of lowering the Douglass Bridge down to grade at the intersection of Potomac Ave -- part of the longer-term effort to create a grand boulevard out of South Capitol Street and greatly improve the streetscape making it more attractive and inviting for pedestrians, bicycles and other modes of transportation.   

DDOT outlined their traffic alternative plans to handle the bridge shut down, including additional parking being made available at the Anacostia and Stadium/Armory Metro stations, and an emphasis on their Bridge Bucks program that incentivizes the use of Metro for people that usually drive over the bridge. They have funds available for 1,500 commuters and have already signed up 600. Traffic on the bridge during July and August is typically reduced by 15 percent, but even with the best of plans to re-route the traffic, education and outreach will need to continue to keep residents and drivers up-to-date on the changes.

Readers have left 2 comments.

(1) Untitled
2007-06-10 14:45:08

Driving under the bridge at Potomac Ave. SW this morning - it is fifty feet high at that point - makes me wonder what lowering it only ten feet will do. The bridge won't be at the grade of Potomac Ave. SW, but new ramps will no doubt bring cars down to then drive southeast or southwest on Potomac Ave. And the bridge won't be lowered over the long part of the bridge over the Potomac River Channel.
The new bridge 20 years from now a couple of blocks down river from the old bridge will be the real South Capitol St. gateway "Extreme Makeover." It will be flatter, like the Memorial Bridge near the Lincoln Memorial. What do you think? Dale MacIver

\n This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ' title='Click to send email'>Written by Dale MacIver ()

(2) Untitled
2007-06-21 08:23:06

The "lower ten feet" description given by DDOT is misleading. As shown on the front page of the July issue of The Southwester, the bridge will be brought down alot more that 10 feet to be at grade at Potomac Ave. Dale MacIver

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