By Southwester Staff
On May 7, the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) held a public meeting at the Southwest Library to discuss the Long Bridge Project. VPRA owns the existing two-track, century-old bridge spanning the Potomac River between Arlington, VA, and Washington, DC. The proposed Long Bridge Project aims to expand rail capacity by constructing a new two-track bridge alongside the existing structure, creating a four-track corridor to better separate freight and passenger rail traffic.
The project will involve approximately 1.8 miles of infrastructure improvements, including the construction of seven new rail bridges, additional pedestrian bridges, and associated railroad infrastructure. One major component is a new bike-pedestrian bridge spanning the Potomac River and the George Washington Memorial Parkway. This bridge will connect Long Bridge Park in Arlington directly to East and West Potomac Parks in Washington, DC, as part of mitigation efforts related to National Park Service (NPS) parkland.
Southwest residents gathered at the library both in person and virtually.. After the presentation was a Q&A session, where residents raised concerns primarily about noise and traffic impacts. VPRA committed to adhering to all applicable noise ordinances and outlined several mitigation strategies, including the use of low-decibel “whisper generators,” reduced-volume truck backup alerts, and efforts to limit night work. The construction of bridges over I-395 and Maine Avenue SW in DC, and over the George Washington Memorial Parkway and Mount Vernon Trail in Virginia, will require periodic lane shifts, shoulder closures, and brief full closures. Any full roadway closures will take place during off-peak or overnight hours, with ample public notice provided in advance. For local mariners, there may be some navigational channel closures or detours. While there will be no permanent impacts to navigation, temporary impacts during construction will be unavoidable. Construction contractors will follow all U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) requirements for safeguarding river traffic during construction and will minimize disruptions, especially during times of heavy river traffic, such as summer holidays.
Preconstruction activities are already underway. Construction is expected to start later in 2025 through 2030. Meeting presentations and slides will be available on the website: https://vapassengerrailauthority.org/project/longbridgeproject/. For additional questions, please email info@longbridgeproject.com.
