The National Park Service is ready to begin the rehabilitation of the Arlington Memorial Bridge, used by thousands of vehicles every day.
According to AAA, the bridge carries about 54,000 vehicles a day. But repairs are needed after rust and deterioration were spotted inside the bridge.
The NPS plans to preserve the character and defining features of the bridge by replacing and refurbishing the original bridge components. The plan includes the repair of the concrete arches and stone facades on the 10 approach spans, the replacement of the bascule span’s steel superstructure, the reconstruction of the bridge deck and sidewalks and the resurfacing of all travel lanes.
Travelers who use the bridge are concerned about additional traffic delays during the rehabilitation.
“You're going to have traffic backups, because we're talking about lane closures. Sidewalk closures,” said John Townsend, with AAA. “It's going to impact every transportation mode.”
AAA said the traffic woes could last about 18 months.
Scaffolding is already going up around the Key Bridge for repairs to that structure. NPS and the D.C. Department of Transportation said the two projects should not overlap, and they will work closely to find ways to minimize traffic disruptions.
