In July 2010, the city of Washington, D.C. (DDOT) installed a contra-flow bike lane along New Hampshire Ave. leading towards the intersection of U and 16th streets. The purpose of the project was to facilitate a popular diagonal movement for cyclists heading southwest by reconfiguring a street with excess capacity and low traffic levels. The contra-flow bicycle lane, which is separated from oncoming traffic by double-yellow striping, allows cyclists to ride against traffic along New Hampshire Ave. in a diagonal direction and then safely turn into a bike box across 16th St. DDOT placed several plastic pylons to distinguish cyclists from oncoming traffic at the intersection and a bicycle overhead signal with a bicycle detector to ensure an efficient crossing. Dashed shared lane markings guide cyclists into a bike box at 16th St., from which cyclists may continue through the intersection onto New Hampshire Ave. or take a right onto U St.