Washington Boulevard & 13th Street Improvements

Construction Update – June 2021

The contractor has been working at the site for several weeks. Work has focused on the underground utilities on 13th Street. The contractor also has installed new structures on the staging area.

Crews will continue to install underground utilities on 13th Street and additional structures on the new Johnson Street before work moves to Washington Boulevard.

What to expect during construction:

Work hours will be 9 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday, during activities that require a temporary lane closure.
- Other activities may occur outside these hours, but this work will adhere to the requirements of Arlington’s Noise Ordinance.
- If weekend work is needed, advance notice will be provided.
Detour signage will direct vehicles and pedestrians around construction zones.
The contractor will use an area at the intersection of Washington Boulevard and North Johnson Street, where three buildings were demolished, as a staging area.

Location

Washington Boulevard from Wilson Boulevard to North Kirkwood Drive (including the 13th Street North intersection)

This project is adjacent to the Wilson and Washington Boulevard Intersection Improvements (Clarendon Circle) project

Status

Construction

At their Feb. 20, 2021, meeting, the County Board approved a contract to Sagres Construction Corporation for the construction of streetscape improvements and utility undergrounding along Washington Boulevard and 13th Street North.

Construction started in spring 2021 and is expected to last for 18-24 months.

Design plan

About the Project

Washington Boulevard and 13th Street North is being redesigned to implement the Clarendon Sector Plan recommendations of providing two lanes of travel in each direction and eliminating the reversible lane signals.

The intersection is being redesigned so the Washington Boulevard lanes align on both sides of 13th Street North. This will provide a more conventional “T” intersection.

Design analysis for this intersection was performed as part of the development of the Clarendon Sector Plan and, more recently, the Clarendon Multimodal Transportation Study.

The design for the Washington Boulevard and 13th Street North project is one element of the Clarendon West development that was approved by the County Board on Oct. 20, 2015. The Traffic Impact Study for that development provides background information and traffic analysis for intersections and streets within and outside the project boundaries. In 2018 the County requested the site developer update their previous traffic analysis to verify vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle volumes. The update was completed to reflect current development plans and parking ratios for the development area.

Project goals include:

Providing four lanes and eliminating the traffic-controlled reversible lane
Reconfiguring Washington Boulevard and 13th Street North to become a “T” intersection
Providing public open space for a future 13th Street North and Washington Boulevard park
Wider sidewalks and improved pedestrian crossings
Undergrounding utilities
Upgrading traffic signals
Installing new Carlyle streetlights
Planting new street trees

Public Process

Project updates have been shared with the Clarendon Alliance and surrounding neighborhood community groups.

January 2018 - Clarendon Circle and Adjacent Improvements Update

Funding

The project's total estimated cost is approximately $6.4 million. Funding comes from local commercial and industrial taxes dedicated to transportation as well as developer contributions.