Northern Virginia Delegation, Norton Hail Full Reopening of Memorial Bridge

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Over five years after corrosion and structural weakness led to lane closures and the imposition of a weight limit, Memorial Bridge fully reopened today with all lanes open to traffic. The historic bridge, which connects Arlington National Cemetery in Northern Virginia and the Lincoln Memorial in the District of Columbia, was repaired with a $227 million rehabilitation project secured after a multi-year advocacyeffort by the congressional delegation.

Statement from U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA), Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Jennifer Wexton (D-VA), Senators Mark Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC):

“We are thrilled to see Memorial Bridge finally reopened after years of hard work, and we thank everyone who helped make this moment possible. Nearly five years ago the National Park Service warned that the bridge would close by 2021 unless extensive repairs were undertaken. We knew that the loss of this key regional artery would inflict great hardship on our constituents, and worked with urgency to secure the funding necessary to restore and reopen the bridge. Thanks to those efforts and the support of key regional officials, that project has been completed successfully. 

“Memorial Bridge is now fully operational, and stands not only as a historic and functional monument, but also as a symbol of the kind of progress that is possible on rebuilding key transportation infrastructure through smart government investment. We look forward to helping make more successes like this one possible in the National Capital Region and across the country in years to come.”

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