Media Contact:  John Lisle at (202) 671-2004

(Washington, DC) The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is scheduled to make adjustments to the traffic pattern on Chain Bridge early next week that will improve the flow of outbound traffic from the District into Arlington. Crews will reposition the construction barriers and restripe the roadway to create a separate lane for traffic turning right onto Route 123. Currently, vehicles turning on Route 123 and thru traffic to Glebe Road share a single lane.

Changes necessary to implement the adjustments are scheduled to be done overnight, beginning at 8 pm on Monday, July 27 and ending before rush hour the next morning. Traffic interruptions will occur during this time and flaggers will be stationed at both ends of the work zone to assist motorists.

DDOT is currently repairing and repainting Chain Bridge. The work includes:

• The replacement of pin and hanger assemblies for the steel girders
• The installation of catcher beams
• The repair and reconditioning of the bridge joints
• Repainting of the bridge structure

The project began on June 1 and is scheduled to be completed in January, 2010. During construction, one of the three lanes on the bridge is closed to traffic. The contractor needs the lane for the delivery of materials, bridge lighting work, the painting of the superstructure steel beams and to stage equipment.

Working with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the National Park Services and Arlington, DDOT has positioned variable message signs on many roadways in the area to alert motorists about the construction and also adjusted the signal times on both sides of the bridge to improve the flow of traffic.

The current Chain Bridge was completed in 1939 and sits on stone piers from the 1870’s. It carries close to 22,000 cars a day and the last major rehabilitation of the bridge was done in the early 1980’s.