WASHINGTON — Starting Monday, the project that will eventually create three new city blocks over Interstate 395 in the District will cause months of traffic changes in the overnight hours.
Crews will start sinking huge, heavy steel beams as part of the Third Street Tunnel Project, which will eventually create a mixed-use development over the I-395 Center Leg between the East End and Capitol Hill.
The work is expected to close both southbound lanes of I-395 from New York Avenue to E Street Northwest from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. starting Monday.
Most southbound traffic will be diverted into one of the northbound lanes, while some will be detoured to 4th Street Northwest. Northbound traffic will be diverted to the 2nd Street ramp and onto New Jersey Avenue.
After about five weeks, the southbound lanes will operate normally, while the northbound lanes will be closed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. and traffic will be diverted to the 2nd Street ramp.
The District Department of Transportation will alternate closing the northbound and southbound lanes.
The work will last for about seven months.
“The next phase of construction will provide compelling visual proof that the Capitol Crossing mixed-use development is underway and on track for 2018 delivery,” Sean Cahill, senior vice president of Property Group Partners, said in a statement.
New water mains and an electrical line have already been installed as part of the project.
