Detours ahead: Road work on Broad Branch Road and Davenport Street

The northbound section Broad Branch Road, closed for weekday roadwork.

by Marlene Berlin

There are road projects under way on Broad Branch Road and Davenport Street. And they could be under way longer than projected due to weather delays.

Take the Broad Branch Road work. The crew was originally scheduled to begin shoring up the road by Broad Branch Stream in mid-January and wrap up by January 28th. First, snow delayed the project. Cold temperatures are another potential obstacle. On weekdays when the work can proceed, the northbound lane is closed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Traffic is detoured onto Ridge Road, and can come down Grant Road to continue north on Broad Branch.

Workers are shoring up the crumbling Broad Branch roadbed and reinstalling fallen posts.

Davenport Street between Linnean and Connecticut Avenues is being repaved. Expect to be detoured here as well, between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

This project is to be completed by February 2nd, but the weather might delay the work. For paving, the temperature needs to be at least 35 degrees Fahrenheit. The forecast highs on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are at or below freezing.

Another potential issue is the water bubbling up onto the street between 32nd and 30th Streets and collecting at 30th and Davenport.

DC Water ruled out a leaky water main. Mike Mourao of Fort Meyer Construction, the contractor, contacted his supervisor about the water. The supervisor thought it could be a sump pump issue. Sump pumps are installed in houses to prevent basement flooding. This captured water is drained away from the house into pipes that can empty out onto streets.

So far the repaving work has proceeded despite the water. Mourao explained that it’s the on-site DDOT supervisor’s call.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top