• By Matthew Flis
• December 17, 2019

Construction Watch: Arlington Memorial Bridge Rehabilitation

The Arlington Memorial Bridge spans the Potomac River, providing a connection between the Lincoln Memorial on the east and Arlington National Cemetery on the west. It was designed to create a physical and symbolic connection between the North and South and link the chain of monuments and memorials extending from the U.S. Capitol to Arlington National Cemetery.

Designed by the architectural firm McKim, Mead, and White, the bridge first opened in 1932. At the time it was among the longest, heaviest, and fastest draw spans in the world. The bridge was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 for its architectural characteristics and innovative engineering.

However, over time the bridge’s steel corroded, and its concrete, surface, and sidewalks deteriorated. The bridge is administered and maintained by the George Washington Memorial Parkway, a unit of the National Park Service. So, to address these issues the National Park Service developed a rehabilitation project that will restore the bridge’s structural integrity while preserving its memorial character and significant design elements.

The Commission approved preliminary and final site development plans for the project in June 2018. The effort includes replacement of the bridge’s steel bascule span; repairs to deteriorated portions of the abutments, piers, and concrete arch approach spans; replacement of the concrete bridge deck; resurfacing of the travel lanes; replacement of the concrete sidewalks; refitting of granite curbs; repairs to granite bridge railings; and other improvements.

Rehabilitation of the Arlington Memorial Bridge is well under way, with work expected to be completed in 2021. Because the bridge is such an important part of the transportation system between Washington and Virginia it was not totally closed for the rehab. Instead, the work is being done in phases.