The crossings of the DC295 road in Ward 7 will be built over the next three years to replace Lane Place Bridge, Parkside Bridge and Douglass Street Bridge. The Lane Place Bridge collapsed onto the highway in June (link opens in new tab). Work is already under way on the new Parkside structure (below) but will be expedited to allow completion two months earlier than originally planned.
Mayor Muriel Bowser said: “We are committed to working with the community and making the necessary investments to increase connectivity, improve safety and build a multi-modal transportation network that works better for the residents of Ward 7. These three bridges, to be built over the next three years, are a critical component of this work and part of our overall effort to build a more connected DC.”
Bowser has signed an emergency declaration and will provide US$1.5 million in contingency funds to expedite the design work necessary for District Department of Transportation (DDOT) to replace the Lane Place Bridge. These are the necessary first steps to apply for federal emergency funds to support the bridge replacement.
The Parkside Pedestrian Bridge, which DDOT began building in April 2020, will connect the Mayfair neighbourhood and Parkside development with the Minnesota Avenue Metrorail and bus transfer stations, and the Deanwood community to the east. The mayor is investing US$250,000 to expedite the construction and open the bridge in September 2021, two months ahead of schedule.
The Douglas Street NE Pedestrian Bridge is in a queue to be replaced over the next two years. DDOT is working with the Office of Contracting & Procurement to award the construction management contract. Construction is expected to begin later this year and be completed in winter 2022.
