News Release

Construction starts in October on Fort Dupont and Fort Davis Drives in Southeast Washington, DC

Date: September 24, 2018
Contact: Jonathan Shafer, 202-619-7186

WASHINGTON, DC - The National Park Service is preparing to rehabilitate Fort Dupont and Fort Davis Drives in Southeast Washington, DC. Drivers should expect road closures to begin on or about October 1 and run through Spring 2019. The $4 million project will improve access by ensuring smoother, safer drives through Fort Dupont Park. To reduce inconveniences for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists, the work will be performed in phases.

 

When  the first phase of the project begins on or about October 1, Fort Dupont Drive from Randle Circle to Fort Davis Drive and the Fort Dupont Activity Center parking lot will close to all use. The first phase will take about two months while workers resurface the road and install storm water management systems. The Ridge Picnic Area will also close on or about October 1 and remain closed for the duration of the project through Spring 2019.

 

The next phase of the project will involve work on Fort Davis Drive from Ridge Road SE to Massachusetts Avenue SE. A map and details about this and subsequent phases of the project are available on go.nps.gov/fortdrs.

 

How to get updates:

We are committed to sharing information about road closures and construction schedules with the community, people who drive on these roads and those who come to the park for picnics, hiking and cycling. For more information on the schedule, location and duration of each road closure visit go.nps.gov/fortdrs.

 

To receive the most immediate and up to date information via text message, sign up for Nixle alerts by texting “fortdrs” to 888777. The service is free, but standard text and message rates may apply.

Why Fort Dupont and Fort Davis are important:

Fort Dupont and Fort Davis were built to defend against potential Confederate attacks on the nation’s capital during the American Civil War. Completed in the spring of 1862, Fort Dupont was named after Samuel F. Dupont, a naval officer who won a significant battle at Port Royal, S.C. in 1861. Fort Davis, completed in 1861, was dedicated to Colonel Benjamin F. Davis, who was killed in combat in 1863. Both forts were abandoned in 1865 after the Civil War ended. In the 1930s, the National Park Service acquired the forts and surrounding land for recreation. Today, popular activities there include hiking, biking, running, gardening and the summer concert series.