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

(Washington, DC) The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will be conducting operational testing of the swing span of the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge, a.k.a. South Capitol Street Bridge this weekend beginning on Friday, May 16th at 10 pm.

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

The initial closure is scheduled for Friday evening, May 16th from 10 pm to 5 am, weather permitting.  If all results return positive no further closures will be necessary. The rain date is scheduled for Saturday from 10 pm to 5 am.

Motorists will be detoured to the 11th Street bridges. Variable Message Signs will be posted along the north and south bound routes leading to the bridge to alert drivers to alternate routes.

Detour:  Motorists traveling from the south heading to the South Capitol Street Bridge will continue north past the exit for the South Capitol Street Bridge onto the 11th Street Bridge, while those motorist traveling form the north ( SE-SW Freeway) can continue to the 11th Street bridge to I-295 South.

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