E Street NW between 4th and 5th

[nicegirl]

I have not been able to find information about whatever is blocking the eastbound lane (and enough of the westbound lane to swallow the bike lane) of E Street NW between 4th and 5th. It looks like they might be renovating the old library? At any rate, it is unfortunate that the major downtown east-west bike lane has been rendered unusable with no provision made for a bike lane detour. Do we know how much longer this is going to last?

Topic

[Dirt]

I haven’t been through there lately. I’ll check it out this week and see what I can find. I was all over the hill last week, but didn’t use E St.

Thanks for the heads-up.

[DaveK]

That’s been blocked for a while now… no idea why though. Was my favorite route downtown.

[nicegirl]

Yeah, it’s been blocked for months now. I thought I could wait it out (at first it appeared to be utility work under the road, which would have a time frame of about 6 weeks), but now it’s really starting to get annoying. Even biking westbound in the open lane isn’t safe because it’s too narrow for a bike and a car at the same time. I haul through there as fast as possible so the cars don’t get too impatient and luckily haven’t been nudged by an overeager driver, but I feel like I’m taking my life in my hands every time I do.

[DSalovesh]

This is the first phase of construction for the National Law Enforcement Museum. Current work is utility relocation and site prep, expected to last until about October 2011.

Then there will be a pause to complete plans and secure permits from October 2011 through May or June 2012, and the street should be open during that time – but enjoy it while you can.

In June 2012 the next phase begins. The finished museum will be located entirely underground, so during this phase E Street will be closed for excavation and shell construction. We’re hoping to complete that work (and re-open the street) by May 2013 so we can move on to the last phase, interior construction and exhibit installation.

Once the roof is closed in and the street is replaced it should stay open from then on. Project completion is expected in late 2013, with a grand opening during National Police Week 2014.

(I work for the National Law Enforcement Memorial Fund, which is responsible for building the museum. The museum location is attached to the memorial, and is part of the land granted to the memorial by Congress. The original project plans had E Street completely closed for most of 2011, and I lobbied internally to keep at least one lane open for as long as possible – E Street is my way home every night…)

[nicegirl]

Thanks so much for the info, DSalovesh. At least I know what it’s about now!

[Justin Antos]

Great information, thanks DSalovesh. I use E St. NW alot and was wondering the same thing, and have recently been either taking the lane westbound (and feeling similar to nicegirl) or riding on the sidewalk eastbound for that block.

Unfortunately, E St. NW is one of the few relatively safe ways to cross 395 around there. The crossings to the north and south are primarily designed for funneling cars to/from the freeway, with bike-unfriendly slip lanes. During the second phase of construction when all of E Street is shut down, is D St. the best east-west alternative for bicyclists? (The H St./Mass. Ave. intersection is kinda chaotic). Could there be signs for cyclists advising a good detour? Maybe some temporary treatments (signage, cones, painted lanes, e.g.) around D and 3rd to help us navigate across the slip lanes?

Good luck with the construction project. It’s never easy in a downtown area.

[nicegirl]

Very old thread now, but Justin if you are still looking for an alternative I have found F to be a good short detour eastbound. 4th St is one way heading south, and it is very low traffic, so I take F from 9th (coming down from G, where there is a bike lane) over to 4th and then down 4th to E, where the road is open again. There is a light at 4th and E, so it’s easy to get back onto E (watch for pedestrians, though).

[DSalovesh]

SUPER-old thread now, but important update:

Construction work is done for now, the barriers are all down, the nearby closures have ended, and the eastbound side is back to normal with a nice new surface and markings all in place.

When I get more info about upcoming re-closures I’ll post here too, but that’s not expected any sooner than June.

Enjoy!

[Author]

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