I've been using it for a few weeks now, but yesterday, DDOT officially opened Champlain Street.
Reconstruction of Historic Adams Morgan Street Revitalizes Community
(Washington, DC) Mayor Adrian M. Fenty along with Ward 1 Councilmember, Jim Graham, District Department of Transportation (DDOT) Director Gabe Klein, local advisory neighborhood commissioners, residents and business owners celebrated the reopening of Champlain Street in the Adams Morgan neighborhood in northwest DC.
“We are pleased to be able to witness the reopening of this important connection to the Adams Morgan community and the Marie Reed Learning Center,” said Mayor Fenty. “The upgrades, new infrastructure, and handicap access improvements will bring revitalization to an area that had become a harborage for criminals for too long.”
Historical Background
Following the construction of the Marie Reed Learning Center in 1977, the section of Champlain Street under the building was closed. The section became a dark and unsafe area for the community. To improve public safety and encourage activity along Champlain Street, the local ANC, Adams Morgan Main Street, and Adams Morgan Partnership passed a resolution supported by Councilmember Graham to recommend reopening of the section under Marie Reed Learning Center. Reopening Champlain Street will provide additional connectivity in the area network.
“DDOT is proud to be a part of this historic moment,” said DDOT Director Klein. “The reopening of this street will provide better movement of traffic, safer pedestrian walkways for residents and visitors to the area, and bring a new positive energy to the learning center and the overall community.”
DDOT completed the nearly $1.7M street improvement project in mid December. The five month long project included resurfacing of California Street between Florida Ave and 18th Street, resurfacing Old Morgan Place to Florida Ave and reopening Champlain Street between Kalorama Road and Old Morgan Place to traffic. The scope of work included resurfacing, new sidewalk with new granite curbs, brick gutter, pedestrian crossings, new wheelchairs ramps, new ADA compliance ramp to the Community of Hope Clinic, storm drainage upgrading, new traffic signals and new streetlights, planting trees and accommodation for a bicycle lane.
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