Erratic driving and crashes on the Southeast-Southwest Freeway at the 3rd Street Tunnel could continue for several more years as D.C.’s interstate renumbering plan stalls.

At the Southeast-Southwest Freeway’s midpoint, the quirky divergence of Interstate 395 at Interstate 695 contributes to a flurry of eastbound weaving and swerving. WTOP’s dedicated traffic camera shows last-second lane changes and drivers suddenly sending their vehicles in reverse dozens of times every hour at the ramp for the 3rd Street Tunnel.

Nearly four years after proposing more logical route and exit numbers, the District’s Department of Transportation has asked federal officials to void the original deal in order to buy more time.

DDOT acting Director Sharon Kershbaum wrote to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials that the department now wants to withdraw its applications for the changes until it can actually move toward fixing the signage to “eliminate unintended confusion.”

DDOT never amended the signs in the three years following federal approval. The city’s inaction has worsened an already confusing exit at the 3rd Street Tunnel. Some paper maps and navigation apps incorporated the new but unsigned numbers. The agency has reached out to some of those app makers and asked that the old numbers be displayed.

The plan originally called for signing the entire freeway as I-395 and smoothing out the exit numbers. Currently, there are two sets of exit numbers for the freeway — a sequential scheme for I-395 and a mile-based set of exits for I-695. DDOT also sought to lessen confusion by giving the 3rd Street Tunnel its own route number, I-195.

The letter to the transportation association, of which Kershbaum is a voting member on its board of directors, states the agency needs an additional two to three years to figure out how to re-sign the freeway and tunnel in a way that makes sense to local and out-of-town drivers.

“DDOT anticipates completing relevant procurement, design and construction activities in support of the proposed changes within the next 2-3 years. Following this, DDOT will resubmit the application for the proposed changes,” the letter reads.

This crash just happened a few minutes ago at @DDOTDC‘s notorious I-395/I-695 interchange. Last-minute lane changes happen repeatedly here because of the confusing exit condition. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/FiqluJy2AV

— WTOP Traffic (@WTOPtraffic) July 3, 2024

The association’s Special Committee on Route Numbering rescinded the application in April. The transportation organization sent a confirmation letter to DDOT on May 7.

The Federal Highway Administration is still weighing whether to accept DDOT’s request for additional time.

“The Federal Highway Administration has reviewed and provided comments on the District Department of Transportation’s renumbering request and expects to receive an updated request from the District soon,” a FHWA spokesperson told WTOP in early August.

A DDOT spokesperson insists the agency is not delaying the renumbering.

“Before the renumbering can be done, DDOT will first need to procure a design company,” a DDOT spokesperson told WTOP. “Once the design is completed, DDOT will move to secure construction funding, make a construction contract, and then change the numbering.”

A major sign structure improvement project concluded in late 2020, but the new signs that were fabricated displayed the old route numbers. A spokesperson told WTOP at the time that the shields and exit tabs would be amended with metal overlays.

I-395 is D.C.’s busiest road, carrying more than 160,000 vehicles per day, many from out of town.

WTOP’s Scott Gelman contributed to this report.

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WASHINGTON – Scooters are a great way to get from point A to point B.

That is if thieves don’t steal them first.

Metro Transit Police officials published a video on social media this week, noting that scooter thefts are on the rise. They told FOX 5 they’ve handled reports of 28 scooter thefts so far in 2024, which is a 22 percent increase from the same period the year before.

Now, they’re urging scooter owners to use U-locks to keep their scooters safe when locked up.

“They got the right idea,” Skylar White told FOX 5 Wednesday at Dupont Circle, adding that she now uses a U-lock on her scooter – after her last one was stolen in D.C.

“I think it’s devastating,” White said of the thefts. “They’re not cheap, and they’re great modes of transportation. So, to hear that they’re just going missing isn’t great. I hope that whoever’s taking them needs the money.”

Metro Transit Police officials also said that in an effort to deter the thefts, they’re conducting additional patrols.

A Maryland-based pest control company has agreed to pay Washington, D.C., nearly $140,000 after allegedly polluting the city with toxic chemicals.

District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb’s office accused Kenmore Pest Control & Termite Services of illegally and repeatedly applying pesticides in the district, endangering residents and harming the city’s natural resources.

Kenmore regularly works in Washington and employs approximately 20 people, according to the attorney general’s office.

City inspectors observed the pest control company improperly applying harmful pesticides around two apartment complexes, Mayfair Mansion Apartments in Ward 7 and Columbia Heights Village in Ward 1, according to Schwalb’s office.

At Mayfair Mansion Apartments, Kenmore applied a chemical harmful to humans and highly toxic to birds, fish, and wildlife, according to the attorney general’s office. The district intervened, incurring $12,000 in expenses for cleaning up the contaminated soil.

At Columbia Heights Village, the company allegedly applied a dangerous pesticide in areas accessible to children and pets. WTOP reported that a resident’s dog was poisoned after consuming the pesticide and had to have its stomach pumped at the vet.

Kenmore also allowed unqualified employees to apply restricted-use pesticides for years and misled consumers about its illegal practices, according to Schwalb’s office.

“Washingtonians have a right to be safe from toxic contamination in their homes and neighborhoods,” Schwalb said in a statement. “This settlement continues to make clear that if you violate our environmental protection laws, damage our natural resources, and threaten the health and safety of our residents, the Office of Attorney General will hold you accountable.”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Kenmore must pay $125,000 in civil penalties to the district and $12,006 in clean-up costs.

The company’s employees must also receive eight hours of pest management training from a course approved by the district, Maryland, or Virginia.