This week DDOT is closing two service lanes and shrinking the size of sidewalks for a “deckover” project that will create a new public plaza just north of Dupont Circle.
DDOT said crews will build a new bridge between a northbound and a southbound service lane of Connecticut Avenue in the block bordered by Dupont Circle to the south and Q Street Northwest to the north.
Currently, between the northbound and southbound service lanes, there is a large opening, from the edge of which cars can be seen below as they travel to and from a tunnel that goes underneath Dupont Circle. That opening will be “decked over” so the plaza can be built above the road below.
As part of the project, this past summer, DDOT closed one lane in each direction on the part of Connecticut Avenue that runs below ground. Although they were still open on Tuesday, DDOT’s chief engineer said the service lanes of Connecticut Avenue above the ground will close to cars within the next few days.
7News was there Tuesday as work crews installed barriers that significantly shrunk the size of the sidewalks along the Connecticut Avenue service lanes. DDOT stresses that for the entire duration of the project, pedestrians will have access to businesses such as Kramerbooks that are located along those service lanes.
DDOT estimates the construction for the deckover project will take about two years. They anticipate it opening in spring 2027.
“This is envisioned as an extension of park space for public use north of Dupont Circle,” said Rick Kenney, Chief Engineer with DDOT. “On a normal day, it will act more like a city park environment, but on a weekend, you can imagine the farmers market could be here or a special event, watching a movie, outdoor dining, things like that.”
The closing of the two service lanes of Connecticut Avenue will take away the ability of drivers to park outside the businesses lining those service lanes. 7News spoke with the manager of one business who is concerned that the construction and closures will drive away customers.
“People may just go another place other than Dupont Circle,” said Can Xiong, Manager of JF Books, which opened just over a year ago. “Every week, we have a free book talk here, and people come. They want to get new publications and everything, so it will affect [that] a lot, I think.”
“We’re doing everything we can to minimize the impact on businesses,” Kenney said. “There will always be pedestrian and bicycle access through this project site.”
Kenney added that DDOT is making arrangements so businesses can continue to receive deliveries during the construction project. He said that after the project is finished, the city expects it to attract more people and economic activity to the Dupont Circle area.
“There will be an incredible new space here that will benefit the businesses and the residents in the broader city,” Kenney said.
Kenney said after the $38 million project is done, the service lanes on Connecticut Avenue will reopen to cars, but parking will no longer be allowed.
“We’re hoping to encourage a major mode shift of the people that patronize here,” Kenney said, saying the city wants to encourage more people to arrive by Metro, bike and walking.
Although the federal government runs Dupont Circle itself, the new plaza will be run by the city.
Kenney said in order to deck over the space above the lower part of Connecticut Avenue, walls on each side of the below-ground lanes will need to be strengthened. Behind those walls are abandoned trolley tunnels.