ENR’s 2020 MidAtlantic Project of the Year Awarded to a Washington D.C. Innovative Highway Land-Use Project

Photo credit: Ted Eytan, CC BY 2.0

Engineering News-Record (ENR) announced the 2020 MidAtlantic Best Project of the year was awarded to a project that constructed a seven-acre platform above highway I-395 in northwest Washington D.C., providing 2.2 million sq. ft. of commercial, retail, and open public space, while also creating a new 700,000 sq. ft. below-grade parking garage spanning three city blocks.

The $263.3 million project, “Capitol Crossing”, returned a three-block section of D.C. back into the city’s historic traffic grid by reestablishing an area between E. Street and Massachusetts Avenue near Capitol Hill. The original traffic grid, established by Pierre L’Enfant in 1791, was disrupted by the construction of highway I-395 in the 1960’s, which divided the East End and Capital Hill neighborhoods. I-395 however, was constructed below street level elevation and the contractors for Capital Crossing devised a plan to cover the existing highway with a massive seven-acre platform and restore street-level space.

The project was first awarded Best Project in the highway/bridge category, placing it as a finalist for the overall MidAtlantic Best Project award. Two panels of industry judges reviewed nearly 100 projects based on criteria including the project’s ability to overcome challenges, contribute to the industry and community, safety and construction measures, and design quality. Ultimately, Capitol Crossing was selected the winning project of the year for the MidAtlantic region.

Capital Crossing not only innovatively utilized space, but the project required extensive relocation of utilities including the installation of a new 138-kV high voltage transmission line, relocating a 36-inch water transmission line, excavating 30 ft. below the water table, and using a lift system with hydraulic jacks to move an 1876 Jewish Historical Society synagogue twice.

In addition, the team had to coordinate extensively with the District’s Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, and other local and federal authorities for the maintenance and evaluation of affected traffic. The project developed a six-phase traffic control plan including a 24-hour traffic simulation model to help evaluate weekday and weekend construction activities.

Overall, the Capitol Crossing team innovatively utilized available land space while improving traffic flow, reviving the historic vision of D.C., and providing commercial, retail, and pedestrian friendly promenade space. You can view complete building plans and layouts of Capitol Crossing at the official website here.