Waterside Drive NW is closing for rehabilitation work, a project that could have a significant traffic impact in the surrounding neighborhoods for the next two months.

The National Park Service said the southern portion of the road, a segment that takes northbound drivers from Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway to Massachusetts Avenue NW, will be closed from Monday, Sept. 21 until Nov. 13. Drivers looking to go southbound on the Rock Creek Parkway from Massachusetts Avenue will be detoured to the on-ramp at P Street NW. Northbound traffic on the Rock Creek Parkway will have to exit at either K Street or Shoreham Drive NW and Beach Drive NW.

“Heavier traffic on Wisconsin Avenue NW, Massachusetts Avenue NW and Connecticut Avenue NW is possible as drivers acclimate to the detours,” WTOP Traffic reporter Dave Dildine said.

From Oct. 25 to Nov. 13, the northern portion of Waterside Drive, between Massachusetts Avenue NW and the northbound on-ramp to the Rock Creek Parkway, will also be closed. There is no detour from Massachusetts Avenue to the northbound Rock Creek Parkway.

“This could have significant impacts on daily traffic patterns through the West End, Embassy Row, Georgetown and Woodley Park,” Dildine said.

The National Park Service said the closures are necessary in order to protect the public and construction workers. The agency added that less restrictive measures are not possible.

Source