(Washington, DC) The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announced plans to start construction on the Air Rights Tunnel Project in northwest Washington. Construction activities will begin in early October and continue through spring 2013.

The 18-month project will rehabilitate the bridges that are located over I-395 on H and K Streets and Massachusetts Avenue, NW. As part of the rehabilitation efforts the bridge surfaces will be upgraded and improvements will be made to the drainage system, traffic signals, street lighting and sidewalks. Electrical-mechanical upgrades will also be made to the Air Rights Tunnel below the bridges. The upgrades will provide better lighting and air exchange within the tunnel for travelers who use the tunnel (The Air Rights Tunnel is part of what is commonly referred to as the 3rd Street Tunnel).

Construction activities are scheduled to take place Monday through Friday between 9 am and 4 pm and may also occur on weekends as needed. At a minimum one lane will be kept open per direction on each of the bridges while two lanes, at a minimum, will be kept open in each direction within the tunnel.

For more information please visit the project website at air-rightstunnel.com  or contact the DDOT Project Manager Abdullahi Mohamed at (202) 671-4614 or Abdullahi.Mohamed@dc.gov.