News Release

Bridge to the future

Date: May 23, 2018
Contact: Jonathan Shafer, 202-619-7186
Contact: Aaron LaRocca, 703-289-2508

WASHINGTON— Starting after Memorial Day, the National Park Service will get Arlington Memorial Bridge ready for a full rehabilitation, which will begin in fall 2018. Work this summer will prepare the bridge to support construction equipment and traffic until its rehabilitation is finished in 2021. The bridge’s current 10 ton load restriction will stay in place for the duration of the project.  

“You will see workers pouring concrete, moving equipment and staging barges. As a result, drivers should expect delays and cyclists and pedestrians may have to take detours,” park Superintendent Alexcy Romero said. “Workers will temporarily close up to two lanes and one sidewalk on the bridge. Setting up the staging areas may slow travel on the George Washington Memorial Parkway, at Memorial Circle and cause delays for pedestrians and cyclists on the Mount Vernon Trail .”

Work crews will:

• Strengthen the bridge deck and pour new concrete on the roadway
• Reinforce rusted steel in the bascule (drawbridge) span in the middle of the bridge
• Service the bridge’s support structure by reinforcing the road deck from underneath
• Set-up equipment staging areas for the bridge’s full rehabilitation

This work is the first step in a process that the National Park Service, Federal Highway Administration, and project contractors are managing to ensure that work on Arlington Memorial Bridge goes ahead safely and on schedule. We will share updates about the work and how it will affect you at go.nps.gov/memorialbridge.

More than a bridge
Arlington Memorial Bridge has served as a monument to the sacrifices and valor of our nation’s military personnel since its dedication in 1932. Now that it is nearly  90 years old, the National Park Service is rehabilitating the bridge for service in its second century. As one of the largest transportation projects in National Park Service history, the rehabilitation of Arlington Memorial Bridge will give new life to our capital’s ceremonial entrance while respecting its character, history, and national significance. For more information about the project, please visit go.nps.gov/memorialbridge.