DOT green-lights Wilson Bridge plan
The Dept. of Transportation has approved an agreement between Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia to rebuild and expand the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge spanning the Potomac River – a vital link of Interstate 95, a major north-south freight corridor.
Congress has agreed to provide $1.586 billion in federal funds to rebuild the bridge with the understanding that Virginia and Maryland would have to agree to own and maintain the bridge.
Under the DOT-approved financial plan, the states have agreed to a joint ownership and maintenance plan, and to provide all additional funding to support the total bridge project, which is expected to cost $2.4 billion. The new bridge is expected to be completed by 2011.
Originally, the cost of the 12-lane, twin-drawbridge replacement proposal hovered between $1.4 billion and $1.6 billion and was expected to be completed by 2004. The 39-year old structure is crumbling today under triple the weight of trucks and cars it was meant to carry.
Sign up for our free eNewsletters
