Media Contact: Karyn Le Blanc, (202) 671-3490

(Washington, DC) The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will be conducting testing of the swing span of the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge, a.k.a. South Capitol Street Bridge this weekend beginning on Friday, April 18th at 10 pm.

To conduct a full test of the swing span, and ensure the safety of motorist and workers, the bridge must be closed during the testing activity.

The first closure is scheduled for Friday evening, April 18th from 10 pm to 5 am. If all results return positive no further closures will be necessary. However, if minor adjustments are found to be necessary, additional testing and closures will be conducted on Saturday from 10 pm to 5 am and repeated again with test-dependent closures scheduled for Sunday from 10 pm to 5 am.

Motorist will be detoured to the 11th Street bridges. Variable Message Signs will be posted along the north and southbound routes leading to the bridge to alert motorist to the detour.

DDOT will send out a follow up notice after the initial test on Friday evening to notify area residents and motorists if closures will be necessary on Saturday and/or Sunday.

DDOT encourages all motorists to travel safely throughout the work area.