‘Meridian Hill Park’
courtesy of ‘ Jomo’

The National Park Service announced today that construction work will begin July 12 on the western retaining wall of Meridian Hill Park. The work will impact both vehicular and pedestrian traffic along 16th Street for roughly three months. From the NPS press release:

Beginning the week of Monday, July 12th, the National Park Service’s (NPS) Rock Creek Park and its contractor, The Christman Company of Alexandria, VA, will begin performing necessary stabilization work on the historic 35-foot- high retaining wall at Meridian Hill Park that borders northbound 16th Street, N.W. This historic wall is located on the west side of Meridian Hill Park near the intersection of 16th Street N.W. and Crescent Place Drive, N.W. Work on this project is expected to be completed in approximately three months.

To ensure pedestrian and vehicular safety, the work will require closure of a portion of the northbound lanes of 16th Street, N.W. beginning the week of July 12, 2010. The work area will start near the bus stop on the northbound side of 16th Street, N.W., and continue approximately 600-feet northward. The resulting traffic shift will provide two lanes in both directions at all times. Parking along southbound 16th Street, N.W. will be eliminated adjacent to the work area.

Also note:

Pedestrian traffic on the east side of 16th Street, N.W. will be restricted during the working hours of Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This sidewalk will be open every afternoon after working hours and will remain open all weekend. During working hours, pedestrian traffic will then be redirected to the west side of 16th Street, N.W. at W and Euclid Streets, N.W.

DC Water is also doing some pipe replacement work between Euclid and Fuller Streets, NW. If you use 16th Street as part of your daily commute, beware, it’s likely traffic will be heavy between Florida Avenue and Columbia Road. The S1, S2, S4 and S9 bus routes may also experience delays due to this work.

Dave Stroup

Dave has been following DC news and politics for nearly eight years and previous authored the blog “Why I Hate DC.” Dave tries to give a voice to those frustrated by the “politics as usual” in the area. By day he works in the technology department of a non-profit, by night he writes about news and politics and works at a local hardware store. Dave is also a contributor for Greater Greater Washington. You can follow him on Twitter or read his personal blog.