Massive Road Closure Coming to Northwest DC Thursday; Beach Drive to Be Shut Down for Months

WASHINGTON, DC — Attention, commuters near Georgetown: that winding road you take through Rock Creek Park in Northwest is going bye-bye for a long, long time. Authorities will be shutting down a huge section of Beach Drive until Spring 2017 starting this Thursday.

The National Park Service is about to begin the Beach Drive rehabilitation project, which will last three years and will be completed in four segments. The first segment will begin Sept. 22 and will involve shutting down Beach Drive between Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway NW to Tilden Street NW until Spring 2017, according to an NPS statement.

The entire project will take three years to complete the rehabilitation of all four segments of Beach Drive.

"Each segment of Beach Drive will be closed in both directions 24/7 during work," the NPS statement reads. "The project includes full depth pavement reconstruction, which requires excavating the entire area and placing a new gravel base before new asphalt paving; improvements to pedestrian and bicycle trails in collaboration with the DDOT; DC Water storm drain rehabilitation and improvement projects; installation and upgrades of raised pavement markers, centerline rumble strips, guardrails and road signs to provide safer road conditions for drivers; parking area reconstruction and rehabilitation; traffic signal and streetlight replacement; and the rehabilitation of six bridges."

The paved multi-use trail will remain open for pedestrians and cyclists during daylight hours while construction is ongoing.

For the first segment, reconstruction "will include Beach Drive, from Shoreham Drive to Tilden Street, the Rock Creek trail, rehabilitation of the Zoo Tunnel (including sidewalk widening), the ramp to Harvard Street, and streetlight and traffic signal replacement at Tilden St," the statement reads. "Access to the National Zoo driveway and Harvard Street Ramp from Beach Drive will be closed during the first segment."

Beach Drive is the main access road through Rock Creek Park, but it has become riddled with potholes and NPS is trying to make permanent fixes instead of continuing to spend money on temporary repairs.

The statement adds: "The NPS will use Nixle to provide upcoming closure and critical project information We encourage everyone to register for this free service that allows information to be sent through text, email, social media and the Nixle mobile app. You can register on either your mobile phone or online at nixle.com. To receive alerts about the Beach Drive rehabilitation project, text BEACHDRIVE to 888777. To register online, visit www.nixle.com and create a user profile. After you register, you will receive information about the Beach Drive rehabilitation project including upcoming closure and detour information. You can opt out at any time. Standard carrier data or messaging rates may apply."

Image via Flickr user David