Beach Drive Rehabilitation

Rock Creek Park, Washington, DC

What's Happening and When?

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, with the exception of work on Beach Drive between Piney Branch Parkway and Porter Street NW. Prior to the beginning with each new segment, the National Park Service will post upcoming road work and road closure information on this webpage, so drivers, cyclists and pedestrians can plan their trip through, and around Rock Creek Park.

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, which affects 12 million commuters annually, 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.

Construction Schedule Updates

1. Reconstruction of Beach Drive between Porter Street NW and Piney Branch Parkway will begin in early June but will no longer require a 24/7 closure during construction,

With the addition of a temporary lane created by eliminating the road median, engineers determined Beach Drive is wide enough between Porter Street NW and Piney Branch Parkway to maintain two-way traffic during reconstruction of this section. Drivers are urged to go slow, stay alert for dynamic lane shifts and watch for people working on the side of the road.

2. Segments 2 and 3 are being combined and will close at the same time. Segment 2 will open as originally scheduled while work proceeds north, and

Immediately following completion of Segment 1, Beach Drive will close from Park Road/Tilden Street NW to Joyce Road NW (immediately south of Military Road NW). Work on the southern section, between Park Road/Tilden Street NW to Broad Branch Road/Blagden Avenue NW, will conclude first and reopen while the remaining work continues north to Military Road NW (originally Segment 3).
Creating one larger construction segment increases efficiency and could allow the project to finish ahead of schedule. North of Blagden Avenue NW, there are a number of overlapping projects with DDOT and DC Water, and this early start could reduce impacts to neighbors and commuters.

3. Detour routes during the combined work on Segments 2 and 3 have been updated to improve neighborhood safety, and be more accommodating to traffic patterns and feedback from area residents.

A more detailed project schedule will be posted as it is available.

Project Schedule
Construction on Segment 1 is expected to be completed in mid to late summer 2017. 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 - summer 2017).

Segment 2 (Green) - Park Road/Tilden Street NW to Broad Branch Road/Blagden Avenue NW - 0.34 miles
- Expected to begin mid to late summer 2017

Segment 3 (Yellow) - Broad Branch Road/Blagden Avenue NW to Joyce Road NW - 1.59 miles
- Segments 2 and 3 will now close at the same time. Segment 2 will open as originally scheduled.
- Expected to begin in mid to late summer 2017
Segment 4 (Black) - Joyce Road NW to DC/MD border - 2.70 miles

Highlights from Segment 1

There were a number of great achievements throughout Segment 1 including:

Fully replacing the roadway.
Widening and resurfacing the multi-use trail.
Enhancing the Park’s landscape and environment by planting another 100 native trees (200 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.

Project Updates

On Saturday, June 17, 2017, nearly all of the multi-use trail work for Segment 1 will be complete and open to the public. This stretch of trail, from Klingle Road NW to Shoreham Drive NW, provides a safer, wider, and smoother pathway for pedestrians and cyclists.
The park began placing a layer of stone "riprap" (loose stone) along the Rock Creek stream bank, just north of Piney Branch Parkway and along Beach Drive. The riprap will help prevent previous erosion on the stream bank that was undermining the multi-use trail, and was brought in to match existing stones and original natural features of the area.
As a result of the additional trail work added to the first segment of the project, the sidewalk through the Zoo Tunnel will be wider and repaired, creating a safer and more recreation-friendly surface.
Northbound and Southbound Beach Drive: There are ongoing road closures on both northbound and southbound Beach Drive from Rock Creek & Potomac Parkway to Porter Street NW, and from Piney Branch Parkway to Tilden Street/Park Road NW.

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.

Pedestrians and Cyclists

During construction on Beach Drive, the paved multi-use trail will remain open for pedestrians and cyclists during daylight hours. During segments 1A and 1B, the trail gate at the National Zoo will be open between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. Pedestrians and cyclists will need to plan an alternate route, between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., as there will be no access to the trail through the National Zoo or the zoo tunnel.
During construction on the paved multi-use trail, NPS will provide a protected and designated space for cyclists and pedestrians on Beach Drive. Park users are advised to stay alert and to follow signs, because conditions and routes will change as construction progresses. Additionally, cyclists and pedestrians are reminded to respect posted closures. Using the closed sections of Beach Drive (currently between Porter St NW and Rock Creek & Potomac Parkway) is prohibited and violators are subject to citation.
Due to very serious safety concerns resulting from the number of close calls between construction equipment and people who have illegally entered the closed area, increased patrols by the United States Park Police are being implemented in the closure area.

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.