Beach Drive Rehabilitation

What's New?

Work on Segment 4 - Final road segment and Wise Road NW resurfacing
The three year project to completely rehabilitate Beach Drive is in its final phase.

Beginning at 6 a.m. on Saturday, April 27, Wise Road NW between Oregon Avenue NW and Beach Drive NW will close to drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists until fall. The closure is to allow construction on Beach Drive and to completely resurface Wise Road. The road will stay closed until the Beach Drive Rehabilitation project is complete. The project is scheduled to end in fall 2019.

Beach Drive is currently closed from Joyce Road NW to Wise Road NW and from Wise Road NW to the Maryland - District of Columbia Border. The closure applies to drivers, pedestrians, and bicylists. Look under Work Updates on this page and at our trail closure map to see where you can travel instead.

The National Park Service will close access to Wise Road in late spring 2019.

Sign up for alerts by texting "BEACHDRIVE" to 888777 (this service is free, but standard text/data rates may apply)

 

 

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 27, 2017).

• Segment 2 (Green) - Park Road/Tilden Street NW to Broad Branch Road/Blagden Avenue NW - 0.34 miles (August 28, 2017 - January 8, 2018)

• Segment 3 (Yellow) - Broad Branch Road/Blagden Avenue NW to Joyce Road NW - 1.59 miles (August 28, 2017 - July 9, 2018)
• Segment 4 (Black) - Joyce Road NW to DC/MD border - 2.70 miles
  • Began on July 9, 2018 and will continue through fall 2019

 

Work Updates

Safety
You should stay alert and follow the instructions you read on signs or hear from construction workers because conditions and routes may change as construction progresses. We want to remind cyclists and pedestrians that the reason we close areas is to keep workers and park visitors safe. Please do not use closed sections of Beach Drive. If you do, you may receive a citation.

 

Detour route for Segment 4.

Rehabilitation Explained

The rehabilitation project includes full depth pavement reconstruction, which requires excavating the entire area and placing a new gravel base before new asphalt paving; improvements to pedestrian and bicycle trails in collaboration with the District Department of Transportation (DDOT); DC Water storm drain rehabilitation and improvement projects; installation and upgrades of raised pavement markers, centerline rumble strips, guardrails and road signs to provide safer road conditions for drivers; parking area reconstruction and rehabilitation; traffic signal and streetlight replacement; and the rehabilitation of six bridges.

This project will provide a safer and more pleasant trip through Rock Creek Park for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians, while maintaining the historic character of the park.

Highlights from Segment 1, 2 and 3
We have accomplished a lot on Beach Drive. Some of the things we have finished include:

• Fully replacing the roadway.

• Widening and resurfacing the multi-use trail on the west side of Beach Drive from Connecticut Ave. to Bluff Bridge south of Tilden Street.

• Enhancing the Park’s landscape and environment by planting another 200 native trees (100 more will be planted) along the road and trail.

• Retrofitting the storm drainage system.

• Repairing and replacing the guardrails, road signs, parking areas, traffic signals, and street lights.

• Blagden bridge improvements including abutment and stone masonry repairs beneath the bridge, removed and replaced railing to the bridge sidewalk, and a new crosswalk added at the intersection of Blagden Ave and Beach Drive.

Temporary Traffic Delays

Bingham Road Closure through Rock Creek Park between Oregon Avenue NW and Beach Drive NW
Bingham Drive NW between Oregon Avenue NW and Beach Drive NW, is closed through November 2018 while DC Water works to safely rehabilitate sewer infrastructure along Oregon Avenue NW from Rittenhouse Street NW to Beech Street NW. For information about affiliated roadwork, not on park land, and detours, please visit: www.dcwater.com/workzones/projects/oregon-avenue-sewer-rehab.cfm.

Stay in the Know, How to get Project Updates

Nixle: Sign up for text alerts
Nixle is a free tool that allows information to be sent through text, email, social media, and the Nixle mobile app. You can register from your mobile phone or online at nixle.com. To receive text message alerts about the Beach Drive rehabilitation project, text BEACHDRIVE to 888777. To register online, visit www.nixle.com and create a user profile. After you register, you will receive information about the Beach Drive rehabilitation project including upcoming closure and detour information. You can opt out any time. Standard carrier data or messaging rates may apply.

Pre-Recorded Information Line
Commuters and visitors can call 202-895-6232 for road closure information.