Overhead Wires for Street Cars Getting Installed on H Street Tomorrow

Photo by PoPville flickr user philliefan99

From DDOT:

“The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has announced the DC Streetcar construction team will begin installing head span wire along the H/Benning corridor on Wednesday, November 13, 2013. Well into the final stage of construction along H/Benning, the hanging of head spans marks a milestone in the timeline for delivering streetcars to the H/Benning corridor in December to begin their official in-traffic safety testing process.

Motorists should be aware that rolling closures up and down H Street, NE will be implemented to facilitate this installation. At approximately 7:00 am on Wednesday, November 13, 2013, the construction team will begin installing each section of head span wire from the south side of H Street, NE to the north side, between 3rd Street, NE and 14th Street, NE. Each closure will take approximately 2-3 minutes, stopping traffic going eastbound and westbound as the construction team moves along the corridor hanging wire.

The thin, stainless-steel wire supports the contact wires that will power the streetcars. Once the head span wire has been installed and safe connections are made to Overhead Catenary System (OCS) hardware and poles, all lanes will be reopened. Contact wire will be strung in the next phase of work and an additional notice will be sent out at that time.

Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the installation of head span wire. DDOT and WMATA are working together to make certain their level of service is maintained along the corridor.

The construction team will make every effort to mitigate impacts to parking during this work. The continued support and patience of the community is essential in order to meet this aggressive completion schedule. We ask that motorists and pedestrians use caution as they travel through or near the work zone, and follow all restrictions.”