Commuter Alert : DDOT Shuts Down Part of Canal Road

Commuters who plan to drive westbound on Canal Road, NW, can expect delays today because of a problem in road stability. Back-ups may also affect M Street, NW, traffic.

The District Department of Transportation closed the westbound lane of Canal Road, NW, between Foxhall Road and Reservoir Road around noon. A small indentation in the pavement at the intersection of Reservoir and Canal Roads near Fletcher’s Boathouse has DDOT engineers inspecting the road.

“It’s a grower,” said Paul Hoffman, DDOT project manager for Wards 3 and 4. Hoffman said DDOT was aware of the road depression earlier. One of its workers checked at the beginning of the week. The agency decided to call for the closure today.

During non-rush hours, westbound traffic on Canal Road NW was being directed west to Foxhall Road, NW, and then west onto MacArthur Boulevard, NW, and then south on Arizona Avenue NW to reconnect with Canal Road, NW.

Only one lane outbound for the evening rush towards Maryland will be now allowed. Commuters can also access Canal Road by driving west on Reservoir Road to the intersection at Canal Road.

DDOT will assess the problem, but expect road work at this intersection for some time.