Prior to morning rush hour on Friday, May 29, the National Park Service, at the recommendation of Federal Highway Administration, closed both curbside lanes and 4 feet of the adjoining sidewalks across the drawbridge span of Arlington Memorial Bridge and posted a 10-ton load limit across the entire length of the bridge. The lane closures will remain in effect until emergency repairs are complete. The load restriction, which will eliminate most bus traffic, will remain in effect indefinitely.
During a routine annual inspection of Arlington Memorial Bridge, FHA engineers identified a corroded area. The follow-up evaluation revealed that secondary load-bearing support beams, located at the drawbridge span, are corroding at a faster rate than anticipated and no longer meet load-bearing standards. The inspection also revealed significant deterioration of the concrete deck.
Repair work is expected to begin in July and last 6-9 months.