Washington Boulevard lane closures: Traffic snarls

Downtown traffic was a mess yesterday.  The sooner this project is completed, the better.  What this press release doesn’t tell you is that they begin shutting lanes down at Calhoun and Washington.  What I saw yesterday was that traffic on Washington was shifting over to one lane at the Calhoun/Washington intersection.  This meant cars were unable to clear the intersection and traffic turning left onto Washington from Calhoun sometimes sat through more than one traffic light.  I would avoid turning at that intersection at all.  In fact, I would avoid Washington at all costs between Barr and Broadway.  I also noticed increased traffic on Berry as people used it as an alternate route west out of downtown.

Press release from the City:

Washington Boulevard down to one lane between Webster, Ewing
Ewing now closed from Jefferson and Berry

Washington Boulevard is down to a one lane between Webster and Ewing streets for at least a week, weather permitting, as part of the ongoing storm sewer installation downtown.

Although originally announced to start Monday, Ewing is now closed between Jefferson and Washington. Because of construction to the north on Ewing, it is closed from Jefferson north to Berry Street.

Drivers should allow for extra time or use an alternate route during the construction.