Date: July 6, 2016
Contact: Jarod Perkioniemi, 202-619-7186
WASHINGTON - The National Park Service (NPS) will begin a three-year rehabilitation project after Labor Day to repair Beach Drive; providing a safer trip through Rock Creek Park for vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians, while maintaining the historic characteristic of the park.
The project, which was awarded by the Federal Highway Administration, will be broken down into four segments. During each segment, the northbound and southbound lanes of Beach Drive will be closed 24/7 to all users. Prior to work beginning on each segment, the NPS will post upcoming road work and closure information on Rock Creek Park's website, to include detour routes, so drivers, cyclists and pedestrians can plan their trip through, and around, Rock Creek Park.
United States Park Police reminds pedestrians and cyclists that posted road and trail closures will be enforced to ensure the safety of visitors to the park and construction crews. Road work and closure information will be posted on the Beach Drive rehabilitation project website: https://go.nps.gov/beachdrive.
The NPS will use Nixle as a tool to provide upcoming closure information along Beach Drive to commuters and visitors to Rock Creek Park. We encourage commuters and visitors to register by texting: BEACHDRIVE to 888777 from your mobile phone.
The NPS will host public meetings prior to construction to discuss the rehabilitation project, share information and answer questions. The dates, times and locations of the public meetings will be released at a later date.
The project is a total reconstruction of Beach Drive and 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 paths 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.
The last rehabilitation of Beach Drive occurred in 1991. The pavement has surpassed its service life, and temporary repairs are no longer viable options. The NPS currently spends more than $75,000 a year on temporary pothole and patch repairs to Beach Drive.
Beach Drive was originally designed in 1897 to provide recreational access to America's first urban national park. Today, there are more than 12 million commuter trips through Rock Creek Park every year, and more than 40,000 people use Beach Drive for recreation every weekend.
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Learn more about Nixle. Nixle is a free tool that allows information to be sent through text, email, social media, and the Nixle mobile app. You can register by using either your mobile phone or by going online. To receive 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.
