Thank you for signing up for the Long Bridge Project updates. This monthly construction update is intended to keep you informed on upcoming construction activities, travel impacts, and progress.  

Pile Driving

Installation of the permanent piles to support the rail bridge over the Potomac River is wrapping up on the DC land side! The team successfully installed over 60 piles in East Potomac Park, some as deep as 110 feet. These large steel structures signify one of the first permanent features of the Long Bridge Project. The piles will provide stability under the weight of passing trains, while also helping the bridge withstand horizontal forces- such as those generated when a train needs to brake suddenly.

To learn more, view the VPRA informational video on H-Piles.

Current Travel Impacts

Visit the Construction Disruptions Map to view all travel impacts. 

Washington, DC

D Street SW: Temporary daytime lane closures for westbound travel and a pedestrian detour on D Street SW near L'Enfant Plaza, between the 9th Street Expressway overpass and 12th Street SW will occur through late September 2026, Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weather permitting.  

Eastbound Maine Avenue SW – Overnight Closures: Temporary overnight full closures of eastbound Maine Avenue SW, between Independence Avenue SW and the 1-395 overpass, are anticipated to continue through the end of September 2026, weather permitting, to support demolition of the existing retaining wall and related construction activities. Closures are anticipated Monday through Saturday from 11:00 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Signed detours will be in place, and the roadway will reopen each morning. 

Ohio Drive SW: Continuation of intermittent daytime single lane closures on Ohio Drive SW, between the Metro Yellow Line Bridge and the existing railroad bridge, with flaggers in place through March 2027. 

I-395 (within East Potomac Park between the Washington Channel and the Potomac River): Temporary overnight single-lane closures on southbound I-395 as well as the exit ramp from the northbound I-395 express lanes to the northbound general-purpose lanes with a signed detour are anticipated beginning September 14.  

I-395 Southbound Ramp to Ohio Drive SW: Flaggers may temporarily stop traffic on the I-395 exit ramp to Ohio Drive SW for up to five minutes to allow construction equipment to safely enter and exit the work zone. This work may occur Monday through Saturday from 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. through December 31, 2026.


Virginia



Mount Vernon Trail: The Mount Vernon Trail detour through Gravelly Point remains in place through 2030 to provide safe access around the active construction zone. Trail users should follow posted signage, reduce speeds, and use caution when traveling through the area.


George Washington Memorial Parkway: Intermittent daytime single lane closures on southbound George Washington Memorial Parkway continue through October 2026. These closures are necessary to allow for the safe delivery of materials and equipment to the project work zone. 

September Construction Look Ahead


Washington, DC

• Construction continues along Maine Avenue SW near the Potomac Hotel as crews advance work associated with the new Maine Avenue rail bridge structures.
• Beginning as early as September 16, a temporary daytime detour is anticipated along eastbound Ohio Drive SW in East Potomac Park to perform test pitting. Advance notice will be provided via Portable Changeable Message Signs, and a traffic alert will be posted.
• Continued pile driving in DC along Ohio Drive SW, adjacent to the Potomac River, with bridge foundation work to follow.
• I-395 median crossover construction for the new I-395 rail bridge pier construction.

Virginia & the Potomac River

• Continued marine construction activities, including fender removal, trestle construction, crane operations, pile installation, and support work in the Potomac River. To support fender removal, marine traffic will be directed through the tertiary navigation channel, just west of the existing main navigation channel. Boaters should follow all posted signage and use caution when navigating the area. For more information, view the most recent Notice to Mariners.
• Ongoing bridge foundation preparation activities in Virginia, including pile installation and site preparation for construction of the future bridge abutment.

Thank You for Staying Informed!

Have any questions or comments? Share them with our project team. Make sure to also follow us on social media for updates throughout the month.

Email: info@longbridgeproject.com 

Phone: (202) 769-1808 

Project Description

The Virginia Passenger Rail Authority’s Long Bridge Project is a 1.8-mile rail improvement that will relieve one of the biggest rail bottlenecks on the East Coast. The project will improve reliability and expand capacity for both passenger and freight trains traveling between Virginia and Washington, DC. 

The project will create a continuous four-track corridor between the Long Bridge Aquatic Center in Arlington and L’Enfant Plaza in DC. It includes five new rail bridges and two new pedestrian/ bicycle bridges. A new two-track rail bridge will be built over the Potomac River next to the existing two-track Long Bridge, along with a new bike and pedestrian bridge connecting Long Bridge Park and the Mount Vernon Trail in Arlington to East Potomac Park in DC.

The Long Bridge Project is one of the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority’s many rail projects across the Commonwealth. Learn more at: www.vapassengerrailauthority.org.

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