Innovating to Preserve

Threatened with closure because of corrosion and other deterioration, the Arlington Memorial Bridge in Washington, D.C., was renovated and rehabilitated with innovative design and construction practices. The iconic crossing would continue to serve as both a major commuter route and a ceremonial entrance to the nation’s capital in the future. The Arlington Memorial Bridge rehabilitation project was one of the largest infrastructure projects in NPS history, focusing on a combination of replacement and restoration to preserve the structure’s original character. Most significantly, the now unnecessary bascule span was replaced with a new span composed of variable-depth steel girders. The method used was cost-effective and did not require a long-term full closure of the bridge. Instead, half the bridge was worked on at a time, keeping at least three lanes of traffic open at all times.