A Bridge for the Future

Over the past six years, the National Park Service has made temporary repairs to Arlington Memorial Bridge while planning a full rehabilitation. In February 2016, the Federal Highway Administration informed the National Park Service that despite emergency repairs, accelerated deterioration of the concrete road deck would require a full bridge closure in 2021 without complete rehabilitation. In 2017, $227 million was awarded for rehabilitation of Arlington Memorial Bridge. The work replaces the drawbridge span, rehabilitates the concrete approach spans, and replaces the concrete deck while protecting the bridge's historic appearance by removing, rehabilitating, and resetting the stone curbs and light posts. The metal fascia that conceals the span and the stone statuary are being cleaned and restored, parts of the original machinery and control mechanisms for the historic drawbridge span are being retained, the historic stone and metal cladding is being rehabilitated, and the existing draw span is being replaced with variable depth steel girders to extend the bridge's useful life and reduce maintenance costs.

Washington, District of Columbia · United States