The change will replace the existing lifting mechanism and provide a more durable arrangement suited to long-term transport requirements.
At the heart of the project is a major change to the bridge’s 175-foot, or roughly 53-meter, double-leaf bascule span. The report also states that the I-395 crossing is a vital link between Northern Virginia and the District and its continued reliability is essential to the region’s transportation network. Rather than keeping it as a drawbridge, the span will be converted into a permanent fixed structure. The change will replace the existing lifting mechanism and provide a more durable arrangement suited to long-term transport requirements. The rehabilitation will replace aging bridge components, strengthen the bridge and reduce future maintenance requirements resulting in improved structural resilience and public safety. The fixed-span conversion is also part of a larger effort to upgrade infrastructure throughout the national capital region. The project offers transportation agencies an opportunity to solve long-term structural needs before they become more expensive or disruptive.