News Release

National Park Service announces new overnight traffic pattern on Arlington Memorial Bridge

Diagram of new nighttime traffic pattern on Arlington Memorial Bridge.

News Release Date: March 4, 2019

Contact: Jonathan Shafer, [phone]

UPDATE May 31, 2019: The graphic showing Arlington Memorial Bridge's traffic pattern was changed to more accurately reflect the way construction affects drivers.

WASHINGTON— The Arlington Memorial Bridge rehabilitation is moving ahead on schedule. The work about to begin requires the National Park Service to change which travel lanes are open at night. Starting on Monday, March 11 through fall 2019, the National Park Service will reduce the number of lanes from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m.

The new overnight traffic pattern will involve workers closing one of the bridge’s three open lanes for several hours at a time and temporarily closing an additional lane for about 15 minutes at a time. During the short, 15 minute periods when only one travel lane will be open, flaggers will direct traffic. The flaggers will intermittently stop drivers to allow one way travel in the open lane while workers install a new surface on the bridge from 9 p.m. until about 5 a.m..

This change is to allow room for workers to install large, pre-cast, concrete panels. Workers installing the panels need space to drive them on to the bridge and lift them into place using a crane.

This work was scheduled at night to minimize impacts to drivers. The bridge’s sidewalk will remain open, and the work will not affect pedestrians or bicyclists.

Drivers who use the bridge during the day will not see any change to the traffic pattern. Day use will continue as it has since this construction began in October 2018 with one lane always open east and one lane always open west with a reversible lane to accommodate rush hour traffic. The reversible lane switches direction at noon every weekday (except Federal Holidays).  

We anticipate the next change for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists will be in fall 2019 when NPS will shift work to the other side of Arlington Memorial Bridge. We will continue to share changes to the traffic pattern at go.nps.gov/memorialbridge.
 

#MoreThanABridge

Since its dedication in 1932, Arlington Memorial Bridge has served as a monument to national sacrifice and valor—a symbol of reunification, spanning the historic divisions of North and South. As one of the largest transportation infrastructure projects in National Park Service history, the rehabilitation of Arlington Memorial Bridge will give new life to our capital’s ceremonial entrance while respecting its character, history and national significance. Learn more at go.nps.gov/memorialbridge.