The Latest Design for the Dupont Circle Deckover, Complete with Bike Lanes

• October 19th 2020

by Nena Perry-Brown

The design for the Dupont Circle deck-over woonerf continues to evolve — and now, by popular demand, includes bike lanes.

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) recently shared the intermediate design for what will be a public piazza spanning the Connecticut Avenue underpass from Dupont Circle to Q Street NW (map). In addition to the deck that will provide the base of the plaza, DDOT is also planning streetscape improvements up to California Street NW.

The new deck would house a public plaza, and either side of Connecticut Avenue would be turned into a multimodal woonerf, or shared street. The span would have a pedestrian crossing area at the center and "detectable warning pavers" to prevent vehicles from veering into the plaza. 

The streetscape improvements will include bioretention planters and permeable paving to help with stormwater management, as well as new benches, bike racks, and lighting. New to the plans are 5 foot-wide, curb-protected bike lanes on either side of Connecticut Avenue, between the sidewalk and the parking lane.

The bike lanes would be raised to the sidewalk level at bus stops, and would also connect to the existing Columbia Road bike lanes, R Street bike lane, and the future protected bike lanes along 20th Street. A bicycling traffic signal would also be added at the Columbia Road and Connecticut Avenue intersection.

DDOT is currently soliciting feedback for the latest design and expects to complete the final design next summer. Funding permitting, construction would begin in 2022.

Another, grassroots-led effort to create a public plaza deck is also in the works for North Capitol Street.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/the-latest-design-unveiled-for-dupont-circle-deckover/17419.