News Release

Second phase of construction on Fort Dupont and Fort Davis Drives in southeast Washington, DC starts October 29

Date: October 26, 2018
Contact: Jonathan Shafer, 202-619-7186

WASHINGTON— On Monday, October 29, the National Park Service will begin the second phase of work to rehabilitate roads in Fort Dupont Park. The work will involve closing one lane on Fort Davis Drive. A flagger will direct one-way traffic while work is happening. All lanes of Fort Davis Drive will remain open during rush hour.

This work is part of an ongoing project to rehabilitate all the roads in Fort Dupont Park. To reduce inconvenience for park visitors, we planned the work to happen in phases. Some work is already happening. The updated project timeline is:

 

• Phase 1 (ongoing): Full closure of Fort Dupont Drive from Randle Circle to Fort Davis Drive and the Fort Dupont Activity Center parking lot (Began October 1)

• Phase 2 (Monday, October 29): Single-lane closures with flaggers on Fort Davis Drive between Massachusetts Avenue SE to Ridge Road SE (Starting October 29, 9:30 a.m to 3 p.m. daily)

• Phase 3 (On or about November 5): Full closure of Fort Davis Drive from Massachusetts Avenue to the intersection with Fort Dupont Drive

• Phase 4 (Late November): Full closure of Fort Davis Drive from the intersection with Fort Dupont Drive to Ridge Road SE and from Massachusetts Avenue SE to Pennsylvania Avenue SE

• Lanham Estates Loop Road Closure (spring 2019): Addition of parking and conversion of part of Lanham Estates Loop Road to a trail.

 

How to get updates:

For more information on the schedule, location and duration of each road closure visit go.nps.gov/fortdrs.

To receive the most immediate and up to date information via text message, sign up for Nixle alerts by texting “fortdrs” to 888777. The service is free, but standard text and message rates may apply.

Call our project information line for a recorded update on construction at 202-690-5162

 

Why Fort Dupont and Fort Davis are important:

Fort Dupont and Fort Davis were built to defend against potential Confederate attacks on the nation’s capital during the American Civil War. Completed in the spring of 1862, Fort Dupont was named after Samuel F. Dupont, a naval officer who won a significant battle at Port Royal, S.C. in 1861. Fort Davis, completed in 1861, was dedicated to Colonel Benjamin F. Davis, who was killed in combat in 1863. Both forts were abandoned in 1865 after the Civil War ended. In the 1930s, the National Park Service acquired the forts and surrounding land for recreation. Today, popular activities include hiking, biking, running, gardening and the summer concert series.