Renovations at the intersection of 22nd and I streets will move forward early next month, according to an email sent to community members Friday.
Construction at the intersection in front of Whole Foods will begin by late June or early July and will last “approximately” six weeks, according to the email. Boston Properties, a real estate company, will finance the project, which will install additional crosswalks, wheelchair ramps and streetlights to the intersection – upgrades part of the ongoing construction project on the building complex at 2100 Pennsylvania Ave.
“On-site personnel” will shift traffic lanes at the intersection to maintain access to the GW Hospital and other nearby medical facilities during the construction period, according to the email. The email states the D.C. Zoning Commission approved the intersection’s renovation as part of the 2100 Penn project, which began last year after Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Mark Diaz signed a lease to Boston Properties to construct a new office building at the site.
The email states work at the site of 2100 Penn has progressed despite non-essential business closures and a two-month stay-at-home order in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“All work continues on site without interruption from COVID-19, but this situation could change if there are government-imposed stop work orders or if construction companies decide to suspend work,” the email states.
The Foggy Bottom and West End Advisory Neighborhood Commission voted last month to extend the after-hours permit of Boston Properties after they paused construction work because D.C. Water, the city’s utility service, stalled site inspections during the pandemic. The permit allows Boston Properties to continue its utility work on I Street from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. through the end of July, allowing workers to complete the 2100 Penn project by the time students would return to campus in late August.
The email states the utility work following D.C. Water’s delay will resume June 15 during the day and will move to the 7 pm. to 3 a.m. “after hours” time slot starting the week of June 22 to avoid traffic congestion. Students living in District House and Lafayette Hall will lose access to water for several late-night hours in mid-July because of the utility work, the email states.
Construction workers will also install a tower crane at the site in mid-July, which could prompt them to close off the 2100 block of I Street, according to the email.
