ONLY ON NEWSCHANNEL 8

WASHINGTON - Starting this spring, drivers should expect major traffic delays on New York Avenue in NE D.C. The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is launching five consecutive projects along the busy travel corridor.

Just last week, NewsChannel 8 reported on the New York Avenue bridge repairs. When crews reduce traffic from three lanes in each direction to two lanes in each direction, that could add 30 minutes to your commute.

That's on top of four other major projects along New York Avenue -- but DDOT officials did not want to turn down $36 million in stimulus funds. And by overlapping all of this work, they say they're actually biting the bullet for drivers.

"While it would be an impact, it would be less of an impact than coming and doing one and coming back a couple of years later, tearing everything up and doing another," said Karyn LeBlanc of DDOT.

DDOT officials want to give drivers a heads up to start avoiding the New York Avenue bridge, one of five major construction projects along the busy traffic corridor.

But even without construction, drivers say New York Avenue is tough to navigate.

"It's always heavy, always heavy -- all day long," said Douglas Buckmon, a driver.

And they're skeptical about DDOT's plan to fix the intersection at New York and Florida Avenues. "When you consider that I had to make three U-Turns to get right here, I'll believe it when I see it," said Joann Smoak, a driver.

DDOT officials say they will turn the intersection into what they call a "virtual circle" that works like a roundabout.

By doing so, they say it will be safer for pedestrians who welcome the changes. "A couple weeks ago, a man got run over at Florida Avenue," said a pedestrian. "That's how it is."

But for drivers, the combination of work on New York, Florida, First Street, Ninth Street and Brentwood adds up to a traffic nightmare.

"Oh I don't see them doing it all at once," said Sherry Ricks, a driver. "It's going to be terrible. How are people going to get to work?"

And many are already planning alternate commutes. "Yeah I can come in Suitland Parkway I guess," said Steve Bruce, a driver.

DDOT officials are promoting alternative routes like Rhode Island Avenue, West Virginia Avenue or Kenilworth Avenue. They're also encouraging commuters to carpool or use Metro.

In all, the five projects add up to $100 million, creating an estimated 3,000 jobs. The major construction headaches will ramp up in April with construction slated for completion in the summer of 2011.

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