Photo by Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie.

Remember that big road work project along New York Avenue, the one that we predicted would be “a vehicular nightmare” and suggested that drivers avoid over the course of the next two years? It sounds like some of you actually may listened!

The Post reports this morning that the closure of two lanes along the busy traffic artery has actually improved the drive as most people have changed their route:

“This morning’s commute was fantastic once again,” Jeff Lancaster, who commutes daily from Annapolis, said Tuesday. “The last week and a half have been the best commutes in over 11 years. Obviously, everyone is taking another route, and I hate to let out this big secret.”

Before the construction began at 5 p.m. on a Monday, the average speed in the seven-tenths of a mile stretch that includes the bridge was 21 mph, according to data from INRIX, a company that provides real-time traffic information used by navigation applications. On Monday of this week, the average at that hour was 33 mph.

If that were shown on a live traffic map, 21 mph would be colored yellow, but 33 mph would show as green.

I never thought I’d hear New York Avenue would ever be thought of as a “big secret,” but hey, there’s the proof. Of course, those cars have to go somewhere, and, in this case, that’s Rhode Island Avenue, which the Post admits is suffering from even more people than usual blocking the box. Also consider that it’s only been ten days since the project started — with almost two years left to go, and people already frustrated with Rhode Island Avenue’s congestion, one wonders how long New York Avenue will remain such a commuter paradise.