WASHINGTON, DC — Following tomorrow evening’s rush hour period the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will close the eastbound Southeast Freeway, between 8th Street, SE and Pennsylvania Avenue, SE. As part of this closure the 8th Street, SE on-ramp to outbound I-695 and the 9th Street, SE ramp that connects to the eastbound SE Freeway will also be closed on January 31, 2013.

The full closure of the eastbound SE Freeway will remain in place for approximately 18 to 20 months while crews complete improvements to the freeway as part of the 11th Street Bridge Project - Phase 2 construction. The westbound SE Freeway along this stretch is also currently closed.

While the eastbound SE Freeway is closed, all eastbound freeway traffic bound for I-295, Pennsylvania Avenue or northbound DC 295 will be shifted to the I-695 Outbound Freeway Bridge.

During the closure of the 8th Street, SE and 9th Street, SE on-ramps at Virginia Avenue, SE, local traffic bound for northbound DC 295, southbound I-295 or Eastbound Pennsylvania Ave, SE will be detoured to M Street, SE to the 11th Street on-ramp to eastbound I-695. See map below for details.

On January 31, in preparation for the traffic switch, DDOT will implement a series of alternating single and double lane closures along the eastbound SE/SW Freeway (I-695) during between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. and again at 8:00 p.m. through 5 a.m. the following morning. Also, intermittent 20-minute stoppages will occur along the eastbound SE/SW Freeway (I-695) between midnight and 5 a.m. The 11th Street/M Street, SE on-ramp to the eastbound I-695 will also be closed starting at 9 p.m. on January 31 through 5 a.m. the following morning.

Electronic signs will be in place to provide motorists advanced notice of the scheduled closures.

In the event of inclement weather or other unforeseen conditions, this work will be rescheduled and an updated advisory will be distributed.

For more information and to follow the bridge project and AWI Program’s progress, please visit anacostiawaterfront.org/11thStreetBridge . To join the project or AWI community contact list or ask questions, please email ddot.awi@dc.gov  or call (202) 741-8528.