NOTICE: All Motor Vehicle Traffic to be Detoured During Construction on West Glebe Road Bridge

[Dave Levy]

Para leer esto en español, visite alexandriava.gov/go/3577#lang=es

West Glebe Road Bridge Closed to Vehicular Traffic Beginning May 9

­­For Immediate Release: April 25, 2022

Arlington County engineers will close the West Glebe Road Bridge to all motor vehicle traffic beginning Monday, May 9, due to continued degradation of the bridge beams. Construction of a planned replacement superstructure (road deck and beams) will proceed next month. The bridge’s original piers, which are stable, will be used to support the new superstructure, reducing project costs, construction time and impact on the watershed. Two motor vehicle lanes on the renovated bridge are expected to reopen in early 2023, along with one of two widened sidewalks.

The current structure connecting Arlington and the City of Alexandria over Four Mile Run was built in 1956. Elements have experienced noted deterioration in recent years.

In 2018, a 5-ton weight restriction was placed on all user vehicles. Last month, due to signs of continued structural beam degradation, all southbound traffic was detoured away from the bridge.

While allowing motor vehicle traffic on the bridge during construction has been ruled out, pedestrians and bicyclists will still be able to use the bridge through June, after which they will be directed to a temporary crossing, independent of the superstructure, to be built along the bridge. 

The Mount Vernon Avenue Bridge, located further east over Four Mile Run, will handle northbound traffic detoured from the West Glebe bridge in addition to the current diversion of southbound vehicles.

Arlington and Alexandria continue to coordinate closely on the bridge replacement project, which is scheduled for completion by summer 2023. Crews will be mobilized for the job later this month.

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. Because of continued degradation of the bridge beams, engineers will close the West Glebe Road Bridge to all motor vehicle traffic on Monday, May 9, for construction of a planned replacement superstructure (road deck and beams). Two motor vehicle lanes on the renovated bridge are expected to reopen in early 2023 along with one of two widened sidewalks.    The current structure connecting Arlington and Alexandria over Four Mile Run was built in 1956. Elements have experienced noted deterioration in recent years.     In 2018, a 5-ton weight restriction was placed on all user vehicles. Last month all southbound traffic was detoured away from the bridge amid signs of continued structural beam degradation.     Allowing continued motor vehicle traffic with the additional stress of construction has now been ruled out. Pedestrians and bicyclists will be able to use the bridge through June, after which they will be directed to a temporary crossing, independent of the superstructure, to be built along the bridge, expected to open in July.   The Mount Vernon Avenue Bridge further east over Four Mile Run will handle continue to handle vehicular traffic detouring from the West Glebe bridge.   The bridge’s original piers are stable and will be used to support the new superstructure, reducing project costs, construction time and impact on the watershed.    The project is set for completion by summer 2023.     Arlington and Alexandria continue to coordinate closely on the bridge replacement project. Crews will mobilize for the job later this month.    To learn more, visit: https://www.arlingtonva.us/Government/Projects/Project-Types/Transportation-Projects/West-Glebe-Road-Bridge-Reconstruction-Project.