On the Second New Woodrow Wilson Bridge – The second new Woodrow Wilson Bridge was dedicated in a star-spangled ceremony attended by more than 1,200 dignitaries and guests. The first new Wilson Bridge was dedicated in 2006.
While the public will start using the new bridge after a switchover scheduled for the weekend of May 30-June 1, President Woodrow Wilson’s own presidential limousine, a 1919 Pierce-Arrow, made the maiden voyage over the new structure to deliver the dedication event’s principal speakers to the stage. The antique car was provided by the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library in Staunton, Virginia.
The capstone of the ceremony was a special tribute to retiring U.S. Senator John Warner, who in concert with his congressional colleagues was instrumental in securing full funding for the $2.5 billion project. Senator Warner tightened the final bolt on the bridge, completing the iconic new addition to the region’s skyline, when he pulled back on a long-handled wrench.
Keynote Speaker Quotes
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters: "The new Woodrow Wilson Bridge adds capacity to one of the most congested interstate bottlenecks in the country. This project will go a long way in keeping traffic——and tempers——in check. It also serves as a reminder to communities everywhere that wheel-gripping congestion does not have to be the status quo."
Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley: "The new Wilson Bridge is much more than concrete and steel. It is a symbol of partnership and cooperation between our federal, state and local governments, and a tribute to what we can accomplish as a people when we come together around a common goal."
Virginia Governor Tim Kaine: .We are proud to have worked together as a region with Secretary Peters—first as Federal Highway Administrator and now as Secretary—to advance our key regional projects, including the Wilson Bridge, the Intercounty Connector in Maryland and the Douglass Bridge in the District. Our success today on the Wilson Bridge is a reminder of what we can accomplish when we work together with a united purpose."
District of Columbia Mayor Adrian Fenty: .Bridges unite us. The success of this project is a symbol of the region’s cooperative spirit. Together, we are ensuring smoother travel for commuters and commerce alike."
Switching Traffic & the Local/Long-Distance Lane Configuration
The new bridge will open to traffic after a switchover operation scheduled for the weekend of May 30-June 1 (unless inclement weather forces a postponement). The interim period is needed to allow contractors to make final preparations for the switchover. Severe traffic impacts are anticipated over the weekend to complete the switchover and drivers are urged to steer clear of the Wilson Bridge corridor.
To maximize efficiency and safety, the new facility ultimately will feature local and long-distance lanes. Initially, however, just the local lanes will open, as major work remains on the long-distance lanes on the bridge and in both states. Consequently, following the traffic switch later this month, the new bridge will carry Inner Loop traffic in three lanes, while the bridge that opened to two-way traffic in 2006 will revert to carrying three lanes of Outer Loop traffic. The long-distance lanes are scheduled to be finished this fall, providing an additional two lanes in each direction.
Key Milestones & Start of Telegraph Road Interchange Construction
With the second bridge now finished, the interchanges at Interstate 295, Maryland 210 and Route 1 are slated for completion in late 2008 or early 2009.
Construction began this spring on the Telegraph Road Interchange, following four years of utility and ground improvements. The reconstruction of the Telegraph Road interchange is the final element of the Wilson Bridge Project and will be completed in 2012 or 2013.
Background
In addition to serving as a critical link in the region’s transportation network, the Wilson Bridge is the mid-point of Interstate 95, the east coast’s busiest highway. An estimated $100 billion of commerce is moved across the bridge every year.
The Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project is jointly sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration, the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Maryland State Highway Administration and the District of Columbia Department of Transportation.
Contacts:
John Undeland
Bridge Project
571 237-2690
Michelle Holland
Bridge Project
703 930-7286 |
