Repairs on the bridge are expected to take about four months.
Traffic is about to get worse for people commuting across the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge. The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is closing three lanes of the bridge to conduct emergency repairs on steel support beams. Two outer lanes on each side will remain open but will be subject to strict vehicle weight limits (10 tons).
The bridge handles traffic from the I-66 between Arlington, VA, and Washington, D.C.
(Washington, D.C.) —The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) advises motorists that lane closures have been implemented along the Teddy Roosevelt Bridge for emergency repair work.
— Alert DC (@AlertDC) February 12, 2022
Starting at approximately 10:00 PM today, Friday, February https://t.co/W0p2C7eAMy
DDOT made the decision to close the lanes and begin repairs after inspectors found deficiencies in steel beams during a routine check.
The Theodore Roosevelt Bridge, also known as the Teddy Roosevelt Bridge, is a seven-lane bridge that was built in 1964. It serves as one of the main routes connecting D.C. and Virginia across the Potomac River. Repairs on the bridge are part of broader repair projects across the District made possible by the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill signed into law by President Biden on November 15, 2021.
The lane closures come just as traffic counts grow as people around the region finally return to normal work schedules. DDOT is warning drivers to expect delays and allow more time or use an alternate route for the next four months.
The issue of crumbling bridges and infrastructure is a problem for cities and states across the nation. Last month, a bridge in Pittsburgh, PA, collapsed just hours before President Joe Biden was slated to give a speech in the city about the poor condition of America’s infrastructure. Traffic on the bridge was light due to school start delays and only minor injuries were reported.
Does this closure of the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge impact your commute? Tell us about it in the comments below.
