Tim Bracken, wtop.com
WASHINGTON — If you happened to drive the new outbound 11th Street Bridge Monday morning, you may have noticed there is no longer access to Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE.
While the change might not be noticed by some drivers headed from the Southeast-Southwest Freeway to southbound I-295, those who want to access Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE and surrounding Anacostia roadways will have to use the old outbound 11th Street Bridge. The traffic pattern on southbound I-295 has changed (yet again!) as well.
Seems a little bit confusing? Here’s what you need to know:
From the Southeast-Southwest Freeway
- The new outbound 11th Street Bridge can only access SB I-295
- Local Anacostia traffic can exit the Southeast-Southwest Freeway at 6th Street and follow detour signs south on 8th Street SE, east on M Street SE, then south on 11th Street to the old outbound 11th Street Bridge
- The old outbound 11th Street Bridge can access both Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE and southbound I-295
- Both new and old outbound 11th Street Bridge spans now enter SB I-295 from the left before Howard Road
SB I-295 new traffic pattern
Driving southbound on I-295 on the big flyover before the 11th Street Bridge ramp merges from the left, drivers have 2 travel lanes. The right lane of the flyover becomes the exit for Howard Road, so if you’re staying on I-295, you have to line up in the left lane.
When the 11th Street Bridge ramp merges from the left, you briefly have 4 lanes to work with:
- Right lane is “Exit Only” to Howard Road
- 3 lanes to the left continue on southbound I-295
The Local span of the outbound 11th Street Bridge is scheduled to open this summer.
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