14th Street Bridge work delayed

WASHINGTON - Drivers crossing the 14th Street Bridge will get a reprieve. Work scheduled to start Monday on a major rehabilitation project won't begin until Tuesday, May 26. That's the Tuesday after Memorial Day.

"It's better to start after Memorial Day when there's such a lot of traffic that weekend. This way we give people one more weekend, and such a large weekend, to be able to enjoy their holiday and get to the beach and do whatever else they're going to do that day," D.C. Department of Transportation spokeswoman Karyn LeBlanc tells WTOP.

WTOP listeners started calling the radio station when the electronic signs at the bridge changed Friday morning before DDOT announced the change.

LeBlanc says DDOT is still working with the Virginia Department of Transportation on traffic control and with the National Park Service. The park service isn't involved in traffic control but does control a small portion of the bridge.

"Since it's our project, ultimately, it's our responsibility," LeBlanc says.

"It's really important that we work together to coordinate the traffic patterns and make sure we have everything in place."

LeBlanc says bridge work plans have always been flexible. Signs previously said the work would begin on or about May 18.

For the next year, the rehabilitation of the bridge that connects Virginia with D.C. along the Interstate 95/395 corridor is expected to create extensive delays for drivers heading north. During the $27-million makeover, the entire surface of the bridge will be replaced, and the bridge's support beams will be strengthened. The entire project will take two years.

The 59-year-old bridge carries about 200,000 vehicles a day.

No lanes will be closed during the project, but they will be shifted, slowing drivers down. Heavy construction equipment on the bridge will likely cause rubbernecking.

A source close to the project says VDOT plans to lower to 35 mph the speed limit around the bridge. VDOT modeling shows 10-mile back-ups into Virginia during the morning rush hour

"The first couple of days are going to be the most painful," LeBlanc says.

Drivers should expect there to be off-peak lane closures on weekdays between 10 a.m and 2:30 p.m. On the weekends, there could be multiple lane closures between 5 a.m. Saturday and 5 a.m. Monday.

Chris Hamilton, chief of Arlington Commuter Services, says the work offers drivers the "opportunity to try something different."

Other options, Hamilton says include taking Metro, carpooling, teleworking and biking.

"The bike lanes are going to stay open," Hamilton says.

Arlington Council member Chris Zimmerman says the 14th Street Bridge project is a perfect example of why more cross-river bus routes are needed.

Hank Silverberg contributed to this article.

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