A sight that Washingtonians are all too familiar with – break lights in traffic and construction along the road.
Well, that’ll continue to be the norm around the infamous Mamie “Peanut” Johnson Plaza (formally known as Dave Thomas Circle) thanks to a new construction project expected to continue until December of this year.
How are traffic patterns changing in D.C.?
The principal changes are taking place around the general area of the intersection of Florida Ave NE and New York Ave NE.
- First Steet NE (typically a one-way street) is being converted for two-way traffic between Florida Ave and New York Ave NE.
- Florida Ave NE (typically a one-way street) is also being converted for two-way traffic.
Where is Mamie “Peanut” Johnson Plaza?
While it was recently renamed Mamie “Peanut” Johnson Plaza, you might know it as Dave Thomas Circle, or maybe even the place where there used to be a Wendy’s… Almost all Washingtonians seem to agree that it is one of the worst intersections in the capital.
In the past, Dave Thomas Circle was such a headache and source of stress for local drivers that many would avoid it outright and even believed it was cursed…
The plaza is still very much under development, hence the construction, but once it’s completed it will feature three new green areas:
- Park #1 will be between Florida Ave NE and First Street NE – alongside the People’s Building.
- Park #2 will be a triangular park at the center of the intersection between Florida Avenue NE, New York Avenue NE, and First Street NE.
- Park #3 will be set in the middle of New York Avenue NE and Florida Avenue NE