The Department of Transportation (DDOT) will begin to implement the "Buffered Bike Lane and Pedestrian Safety Improvement Plan" changes to Grant Circle on Tuesday, October 24th. DDOT expects the work to take 7-10 days.

Updated 10/23 with PDF schematic from DDOT of the construction plans, including new signage, pavement markings and more (large file).

Grant Circle will remain 2 lanes, while DDOT will be adding a buffered bike lane as well other "safety improvements" such as reducing lane widths and pedestrian crossings. Current parking lanes will not be removed. Here is the list of changes, based on DDOT's Notice of Intent DDOT distributed on August 8, 2017:

Install a bicycle lane around the Circle, with a two-foot buffer from the adjacent travel lane. Flexposts will be installed in the buffer where the bicycle lane is not adjacent to on-street parking or a bus stop zone.

Reduce New Hampshire Ave between the Circle and Upshur St NW from 2 travel lanes in each direction to one lane.

Convert all approaches to the Circle to yield control.

Install flexposts at selective locations to slow turning movements and shorten pedestrian crossing distance.

Narrow the outer travel lane to 11-foot width.

Reduce the turning radii at exists of Circle to calm traffic and improve safety at crosswalks.

Narrow the New Hampshire Ave approach north of the Circle to slow traffic entering the Circle.

Revise striping to correct for one-way southbound travel at 5th Street NW south of the Circle.

Shorten the pedestrian crossing distance at crosswalks.

Maintain existing parking capacity at the Circle.

"Drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians are advised to stay alert while traveling through these locations and to be observant of DDOT's personnel," said Ted Van Houten, DDOT transportation planner.

