DR. G'S TIPS

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Douglass Bridge Rededicated

There's a new sign on the Frederick Douglass Bridge commemorating the abolitionist leader who lived a quarter-mile from the foot of the bridge in Anacostia. The bridge was rededicated Thursday, marking the successful completion of a major restoration effort that included the shutdown of the span for two months last summer.

The project is timely, because the north end of the bridge lies next to the new baseball stadium. But the restoration also is part of the District's plan to turn South Capitol Street into a grand boulevard approaching the Capitol.

Metro Weekends

Gerald Francis, Metro's deputy general manager, says he has heard complaints from many rail riders about delays that accompany track work, particularly Red Line riders who have endured months of service interruptions because of two switch replacement projects and the rehabilitation of a track bridge at Metro Center.

He says Metro will work on improving its planning for such projects so they don't overburden any line and are coordinated to avoid slowing service during big events that will draw extra riders.

Adding Bike Racks

Eric Gilliland, executive director of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, says bikers were upset by inadequate bicycle parking at DC USA, a shopping and entertainment complex that recently opened as part of the revitalization of Columbia Heights. WABA and the D.C. Department of Transportation found some underused bike racks at RFK Stadium that could be moved to the DC USA building.

DC USA, at 14th and Irving streets NW, has 1,000 spaces for cars.

MARC Tickets

Because Good Friday is a holiday for CSX employees, only the Camden and Dorsey ticket offices will be open on the Camden Line, and only the Brunswick, Frederick and Martinsburg ticket offices will be open on the Brunswick line. All ticket offices will be open on the Penn Line.

Wilson Bridge

Work on the bridge and nearby interchanges will cause lane closures and shifts. Here's a sampler of the coming week's activities:

Watch for lane closures on Route 1 between Franklin and Huntington avenues from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. tomorrow through Wednesday and from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday. Access to Old Richmond Highway will be closed at Huntington Avenue for road construction.

The left lane on the Capital Beltway inner loop will be closed from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow through Wednesday and 9 a.m. to noon Thursday between Route 1 and Van Dorn Street. Alternating lanes will be closed on Livingston Road at the Capital Beltway overpass from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow through Wednesday.

Bay Bridge Redecking

During the reconstruction project, the speed limit on the westbound span is 45 mph. Fines are doubled in the work zone. There are steel plates at various points in the travel lanes. Motorcycles must use the right lane.

HOT Lane Testing

The Virginia Department of Transportation is doing some test drillings for the construction of new lanes along the west side of the Capital Beltway. This is part of the plan to add high-occupancy or toll lanes.

Watch for off-peak lane and shoulder closures weekdays on the Beltway and local roads in the vicinity of Braddock Road, the Orange Line bridge and the eastbound Interstate 66 overpass.

For traffic information, go tohttp://www.washingtonpost.com/traffic.