<bt>There was definitely a bit O'the blarney in Alexandria on St. Patrick's Day, March 17. It commenced at 11 a.m. at what is formally called the South Washington Street Beltway Overpass, also known as "The Urban Deck."
At that hour a "media briefing" was held by representatives of the Virginia Department of Transportation and Alexandria City officials to "discuss the significant progress that has been achieved" on the construction of the Overpass and announce the opening of all four traffic lanes on South Washington Street. It was the latter point that bore the fingerprints of the leprechauns.
"Significant progress on the new Washington Street Beltway overpass enables a return of four lanes on Washington Street, as work on the deck's southern portion has been substantially completed," Ronaldo "Nick" Nicholson, VDOT project manager, Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project, said to the assembled press corps.
Then he added, "But, we are not done. This return to four lanes will only be for seven months. Then we'll have to go back to three lanes. Throughout all this work there will be traffic changes."
THE LANE REDUCTION on S. Washington Street, commencing at Green Street southbound and just before Porto Vecchio northbound, was required for the past two years as work on the deck has been ongoing. Flow has been altered based on rush hour demands with two lanes north in the morning and two lanes south in the evening.
"These traffic improvements on South Washington Street are indicative of the progress we are making. We are able to return to four lanes 35 days ahead of schedule," Nicholson said.
"Even though large construction projects like this will always cause disruption, we've gotten to this point by our partnership with the Mayor, City Council and the community. The next step is the completion of the southwestern quadrant and turning on the new ornamental lighting on this end of Washington Street," he said.
Nicholson's enthusiasm was shared by Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille. "We've gotten to this point without any major storm. Some hiccups, but no storms," Eullie said.
"Our partnership has been one we are proud of. Just two years after starting this project we are able to open this portion. This shows real progress," he said.
"We (the City) are insuring that VDOT is keeping their promises to our residents. And, we are also thankful they are keeping their promises to commuters. We can continue to help commuters by better outreach and communications," Euille said.
"ALL THIS PROGRESS would not have been possible without the help of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Neighborhood Task Force which I chair along with Councilman Andrew Macdonald. We will continue to monitor and work with VDOT throughout this entire project," he said.
Work on the new deck's northern portion is scheduled to begin this Fall, again requiring a return to the three-lane configuration on South Washington Street until construction is completed in late 2007, according to VDOT. The Beltway overpass construction is all part of the project's $54.6 million Route 1 Interchange Tie-in Contract.
One of the primary commuter relief incentives is a program announced nearly two years ago entitled "Bridge Bucks." It offers to pay commuters who must travel through the construction zone $50 per month to find other routes, take mass transit, or carpool to reduce traffic in that zone.
At its unveiling commuters were urged to sign up immediately since there was only a limited amount of money available. John Undeland, public affairs director, WWB Project, said, "We have approximately 450 commuters signed up in Maryland and about 375 in Virginia. Our goal was 500 in each area."
TWO MEMBERS of the Neighborhood Task Force present for the event last Thursday had differing views on their interaction with VDOT since commencement of the project. "On whole I think VDOT has done a decent job of living up to their obligations and working with us," said Philip Bradbury representing Porto Vecchio residents on the Task Force.
"This event is commemorative of this point in the construction, but that's all," said Ardith Dentzler, a Hunting Towers resident who serves on the Task Force. "There are an awful lot of apartments on this side of the tower vacant because of this hideous view of the urban deck."
She was also noted that the new median divider on South Washington Street, stretching from just south of the Beltway overpass to the traffic signal at Porto Vecchio, prevents Hunting Tower residents from turning south at their main entrance to enter the George Washington Memorial Parkway. They must either travel north into Old Town and circle back onto the southbound lanes or use the construction entrance at the overpass.
"This whole configuration only adds to the congestion in Old Town. It also makes it very hard for the residents to enter and leave the towers complex heading south," she said.
Upon completion of the bridge project, Towers residents will use the new entrance, immediately adjacent to the Beltway overpass, to travel south on the Parkway or north into Old Town. The original Towers entrance to the south will also be operative but only to exit north, according to Richard Baier, director, Alexandria Department of Transportation & Environmental Services.
THE ESTIMATED seven-month period of full-lane capacity on South Washington Street "is expected to provide a viable alternative for commuters traveling between southern Fairfax County and Old Town as interim traffic changes on and near the Route 1 interchange occur," according to VDOT.
They warned that the following changes are likely "to increase congestion until drivers become acclimated."
* Lane reductions on the ramp from Route 1 to the Outer Loop
* Future openings of temporary Beltway ramps while construction occurs on permanent ramps
* Tie-in of Beltway traffic to the new southern Beltway expansion
VDOT announced the following steps to expedite traffic on Route 1 in the City.
* More Alexandria Police at and approaching the Route 1 interchange to facilitate traffic flow
* Increasing the Route 1 HOV lane four blocks to Duke Street
* Changing the center-lane on southbound Route 1 from a "through-only" lane to a "shared through or right" lane, enabling two southbound lanes to enter Beltway ramps
* Reviewing and adjusting, as appropriate, signal timing along southbound Route 1 to maximize traffic flow
* Posting advance congestion notices on the project's Highway Advisory Radio system (1620-AM)
* Improving signage and lane markings to help commuters