Drivers

Duration:

54 seconds

Learn how to drive across Arlington Memorial Bridge.

 

What's happening now?

Temporary suspension of lane shift

Effective Monday, April 6 at 12 p.m., the reversible lane shift on Arlington Memorial Bridge was suspended. This means the bridge will have two lanes open to Virginia and one lane open into DC. This traffic pattern will remain in effect until further notice. Sidewalk access has not changed.

(Suspended) Lane shifts at noon and 4 a.m.

This activity is suspended. When the scheduled lane shift is restarted and until early 2021, there will be one constant eastbound and one constant westbound lane with a reversible third lane to accommodate rush hour traffic. Monday through Friday, the reversible lane will run eastbound (into D.C.) from 4 a.m. to noon and westbound (toward Va.) from noon through the overnight hours until 4 a.m. On Saturdays, Sundays and federal government holidays, two lanes will run eastbound and one lane will always run westbound. Drivers should watch the overhead signals on the bridge to know which lanes are open for travel in their direction. This activity has been suspended since April 2020.

Ongoing staging area set-up and construction preparation

Drivers should watch for workers moving equipment to staging areas south of Memorial Circle and in cross-walks near Arlington Memorial Bridge. Workers may temporarily close lanes or stop traffic in order to stage equipment and construction materials. Use caution and follow workers' signals when you drive near the staging areas, around Memorial Circle, and on Arlington Memorial Bridge.

 

What's next?

Expect periodic temporary, total closures

Until early 2021, we expect a limited number of full bridge closures on weekends and occasional, short full closures of the bridge at night. When the bridge is closed, drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists will have to follow other routes across the Potomac River. If you need to cross the Potomac River when Arlington Memorial Bridge is closed you can cross using the:

• Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge
• 14th Street Bridge
• Theodore Roosevelt Bridge
• Francis Scott Key Bridge
• Mass transit