“Rock Creek Parkway between piney branch parkway and downtown is open again”

Susan reports:

“Rock Creek Parkway between piney branch parkway and downtown is open again. The road looks similar as before but smooth as buttah and all kinds of drainage/storm water management stuff. Path has all been redone, and seems a bit wider, at least where road permits it.”

From the National Park Service:

“New Beach Drive closures and detours begin Monday August 28

Beach Drive closes to all users (cars, bikes and pedestrians) between Park Road/Tilden Street NW and Joyce Road NW (just south of Military Road NW). Ross Drive and Ridge Road will also close to vehicles but will remain open to cyclists and pedestrians.

On or about August 28, 2017, Beach Drive will close from Tilden Street NW to Joyce Road NW, which is just south of Military Road NW (Segments 2 and 3), and will open between Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway and Park Road/Tilden Street NW (Segment 1).

Drivers are encouraged to start testing new routes in advance of the change (suggested detour routes and maps are below).

During work on segments 2 and 3, Ross Drive and Ridge Road, which both run through the park and are parallel to Beach Drive will also be closed to vehicle traffic until Fall 2018. The closure provides greater safety for bike commuters who will need to detour on these narrow, winding and hilly routes; will reduce traffic impacts to local neighborhoods; and will provide an alternate location for weekend recreation in lieu of Beach Drive.

Segments 2 and 3 will close on the same day, however NPS will reopen Beach Drive to traffic between Park Road/Tilden Street NW and Broad Branch Road/Blagden Avenue NW (Segment 2) once work is complete. Segment 2 also includes significant work on the Blagden bridge. Beach Drive will remain closed to traffic from north of the Blagden Avenue bridge to Joyce Road NW (Segment 3) until work is completed in Fall 2018.

Pedestrians and Cyclists
During construction on Beach Drive, the paved multi-use trail will remain open for pedestrians and cyclists during daylight hours. During Segments 1, the trail gate at the National Zoo will be open between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. Pedestrians and cyclists will need to plan an alternate route, between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., as there will be no access to the trail through the National Zoo or the zoo tunnel.

During construction on the paved multi-use trail, NPS will provide a protected and designated space for cyclists and pedestrians on Beach Drive. Park users are advised to stay alert and to follow signs, because conditions and routes will change as construction progresses. Additionally, cyclists and pedestrians are reminded to respect posted closures. Using the closed sections of Beach Drive (currently between Porter St NW and Rock Creek & Potomac Parkway) is prohibited and violators are subject to citation.

Due to very serious safety concerns resulting from the number of close calls between construction equipment and people who have illegally entered the closed area, increased patrols by the United States Park Police are being implemented in the closure area.

Project Schedule

The Beach Drive rehabilitation project began on September 22, 2016, and remains on schedule to conclude in fall 2019. The project is being completed in multiple closure segments. Each project segment of Beach Drive requires a full road closure in both directions 24/7 during the work period. The four segments of the project are:

Segment 1 (Red) – Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway NW to Park Road/Tilden Street NW – 1.82 miles (September 22, 2016 – August 2017).

Segment 2 (Green) – Park Road/Tilden Street NW to Broad Branch Road/Blagden Avenue NW – 0.34 miles
Expected to begin on or about August 28, 2017

Segment 3 (Yellow) – Broad Branch Road/Blagden Avenue NW to Joyce Road NW – 1.59 miles
Segments 2 and 3 will now close at the same time. Segment 2 will open as originally scheduled.
Expected to begin on or about August 28, 2017
Segment 4 (Black) – Joyce Road NW to DC/MD border – 2.70 miles
Expected to begin fall 2018″