Arlington Memorial Bridge closure postponed until mid-November

Update, November 1:

A previously scheduled closure of the Arlington Memorial Bridge will now happen in mid-November rather than this weekend, says a spokesperson for the National Park Service. Both WTOP and NBC4 report that the closure will take place between November 15 at 10 p.m. and November 18 at 5 a.m. The change in timing was requested by the contractor on the project.

Original post, October 24:

The Arlington Memorial Bridge over the Potomac River will be shut to pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers from November 1 at 10 p.m. to November 4 at 5 a.m., according to the National Park Service (NPS). The weekend closure is needed to prepare the south side of the bridge, which has been undergoing rehabilitation since last fall, for traffic. The refurbished side will incorporate new steel beams and concrete supports in addition to repaired historic granite.

After the bridge reopens, NPS says, the lane configuration will return to what it is now: one travel lane in each direction, plus a reversible lane for rush hour (except on the north side). “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.,” per an October release from NPS. “On Saturdays, Sundays, and federal government holidays, two lanes will always run eastbound and one lane will always run westbound.” The whole project is scheduled to be completed in 2021 and is expected to reduce long-term maintenance costs.

The bridge, which was originally constructed in 1932 and was designed by McKim, Mead, & White, runs between the National Mall and Northern Virginia. Here’s a video on the project: