Contact (Media Only): Erik Linden (202) 671-2004 and Karyn LeBlanc (202) 671-3490
(Washington, DC) The major construction on the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge continues to progress on schedule. This past week’s construction, among other things, included the widely publicized bridge lowering. This work, which took 16 hours, saw a 200-foot segment of the bridge’s elevated northern approach lowered by just over four feet through the use of more than 35 hydraulic jacks. This milestone will allow workers to move forward with rebuilding the northernmost portion of the bridge to create an at-grade roadway with a new intersection at South Capitol Street and Potomac Avenue.
The 16 hour lowering was captured by time-lapsed photography** and condensed into a 17 second clip.
The following major tasks were completed this week in addition to other key work:
- Lowered three spans of the bridge to final grade, installed new columns and splice plates at column lines
- Continued demolition of the South Capitol Street roadway
- Continued utility work on South Capitol Street
- Setting forms and pouring of light pole bases
- Install junction boxes/conduit for light pole bases
Work scheduled for the upcoming week includes but is not limited to:
- Continue concrete deck repairs
- Utility work on South Capitol Street (D/B)
- Form sleeper slab
- Continue setting and work of MSE Wall panels
- Remove support/jacking towers from two column lines
DDOT continues to encourage travelers to use Metro and other forms of public transportation. Traffic reports throughout the week continue to indicate, as anticipated, slow movement up and down the I-295 corridor. Motorists are reminded to plan for additional commuting time on their way into and out of the District.
DDOT also wishes to thank those motorists who have submitted suggestions to improve traffic movement. DDOT continues to monitor the flow of traffic in and around the bridge on a daily basis and based on motorist suggestions and daily observations have made adjustments to certain traffic signals in order to help facilitate traffic flow.
The Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge Project is scheduled for completion in early September 2007. The bridge will remain closed during construction.
For more information, please see the pictures of the construction work and site