Long Bridge expansion will add new railroad tracks and a bike trail between DC and Virginia

TRANSPORTATION By Julie Strupp (Managing Editor) December 3, 2018

New plans call to double the number of railroad tracks over the Potomac River between DC and Arlington, and to build a new pedestrian/bicycle bridge between Southwest Washington and Crystal City.

Plans would add two new structures parallel to the existing Long Bridge railroad bridge, which today carries two railroad tracks over the river. One new twin bridge would add two new railroad tracks, doubling the two for a total of four. The second new structure would add a separate dedicated bridge for people biking or walking only.

This map shows the existing railroad bridge, its proposed twin just upstream, and the proposed bike/pedestrian bridge just upstream from that.



Image by DDOT.

{In this Virginia is on the left (to the south), and DC is on the right (to the north).}

More rail capacity

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) presented the plans at a meeting November 29, following a years-long study of railroad crossing needs.
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WashCycle has more details on the bike bridge.
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Julie Strupp is Greater Greater Washington's Managing Editor. She's a journalist committed to building inclusive, equitable communities and finding solutions. Previously she's written for DCist, Washingtonian, the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism, and others. You can usually find her sparring with her judo club, pedaling around the city, or chatting with her neighbors on her Columbia Heights stoop.