Delays normal on 14th Street Bridge

WASHINGTON - By the middle of the Monday morning commute, the substantial delays expected on the 14th Street Bridge didn't materialize, but commuters who ignored new traffic patterns along Telegraph Road in Fairfax County found themselves getting ticketed.

"It's a normal backup," says WTOP Traffic Reporter Lisa Baden.

Baden attributes the normal delays on the 14th Street Bridge to the fact it's Monday and lots of people are working flexible shifts this summer.

D.C.'s Department of Transportation warned drivers who use the bridge to expect "substantial delays starting Monday morning."

Four lanes of the northbound bridge have been narrowed and shifted to the left as part of a huge bridge rehabilitation project.

"It's a very simple lane shift to the left-hand side. The right-hand shoulder and part of the first lane have been taken for construction, so it's the same traffic pattern. It's still four lanes of traffic," says Karyn LeBlanc, DDOT spokeswoman.

"We suspect that people will be going a little bit slower. They'll be looking at the construction. They'll be taking their time. That's where we expect the delays will occur."

The posted speed limit has been lowered to 35 mph. Typically, traffic averages about 25 mph without the construction, LeBlanc says.

The 14th Street Bridge connecting Virginia with D.C. along the Interstate 95/395 corridor carries about 200,000 vehicles a day. DDOT won't close lanes during the morning and evening rush hours. Single-lane closures will be implemented during weekday middays and double-lane closures will occur on weeknights and weekends.

Additionally, DDOT will be screen off concrete barriers to try to prevent driver distraction. Tow trucks will be stationed at both ends of the bridge to quickly remove vehicles that have broken down or been in accidents. Half of the delays on the bridge are attributed to crashes and disabled vehicles, LeBlanc says.

The $27-million bridge makeover includes replacing the bridge's surface and strengthening its support beams. It's expected to take two years to complete.

OTHER PROJECTS

Telegraph Road

Commuters encountering new traffic patterns along Telegraph Road in Fairfax County, though, are ignoring some of the changes, and getting ticketed.

New aerial ramps from the Capital Beltway to Telegraph Road opened over the weekend. New signs on the Beltway direct you to the ramps to Huntington Avenue and North Kings Highway. The changes are expected to reduce backups for commuters.

But drivers along Telegraph Road are creatures of habit, driving on autopilot along southbound Telegraph Road, WTOP's Kristi King reports.

Apparently, the drivers aren't looking at the flashing message board or the traffic signals that indicate you cannot turn left on to Huntington Avenue.

Instead drivers are going around orange barrels and then getting ticketed by two motorcycle officers.

Dozens have been pulled over. King reports that police are pulling drivers over five at a time, including a Rex bus driver and a Metro maintenance worker.

While it may seem harmless, going to court will cost you. It's $67 for court costs, on top of the $30 ticket for disregarding the no-left turn signs.

You access Huntington Avenue from the far right lane of southbound Telegraph Road.

Here are all of the changes you'll find as you leave the Outer Loop at exit 176A (southbound Telegraph Road/Route 611) or come on to Telegraph Road from Duke Street:

• Huntington Avenue: Using the new Beltway ramp, you'll cross over Telegraph Road and go directly on to eastbound Huntington Avenue without stopping at a traffic light.

• North Kings Highway: You'll exit the Beltway, cross over Telegraph Road and flow head directly onto eastbound North Kings Highway. Again, you won't have to stop at a traffic signal. But until the new ramp from southbound Telegraph Road to eastbound North Kings Highway opens in 2010, you'll need to yield when merging onto North Kings Highway.

• Telegraph Road South: There's a new right-hand signal onto Telegraph road from the new ramp, which is a half-mile south of the current exit.

• Telegraph Road North: If you need to go northbound toward Alexandria, you'll need to take exit 176 B (Telegraph Road North). You won't be able to turn left as you come off of Exit 176 A. The left turn will no longer exist.

• Telegraph Road: Drivers who use Telegraph Road south and go left onto Huntington will have a ramp to get there. You'll access it from far right-hand lane.

George Washington Parkway

On the George Washington Parkway, a paving project starts near the Spout Run split around 9:30 a.m.

Chain Bridge

Staging work -- road striping -- starts at 10 a.m. ahead of road barriers going up Tuesday and lane closures Wednesday.

The Virginia Department of Transportation says a 52-ton highway sign above and across the Capital Beltway, between Leesburg Pike (Route 7) and Chain Bridge Road (Route 123) will be removed Wednesday night.

(Copyright 2009 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)