Memorial Bridge Will Be Closed Beginning Friday, Dec. 7

WASHINGTON, DC — Starting Friday evening, Arlington Memorial Bridge will be closed to motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians, so construction crews can make repairs, federal officials said.

According to the National Park Service, the bridge — which connects the Lincoln Memorial to Arlington National Cemetery — will be closed from 9 p.m. Dec. 7 to 5 a.m. Dec. 10, weather permitting.

The shutdown is part of a long-term project to repair and rehabilitate Arlington Memorial Bridge. The rehabilitation process, which will end in 2021, includes repairing deteriorated portions of the bridge, replacing the sidewalks, resurfacing travel lanes, and installing a better drainage system, officials said.

"We're closing the bridge to keep everyone safe," said acting superintendent Blanca Alvarez Stransky. "We need your cooperation in observing these closures. If anyone enters the work area during the closure, it will increase the amount of time we need to complete the work."

The National Park Service said people who want to cross the Potomac River during this time should find an alternative route. The agency added that boaters should be careful near the bridge and avoid the area by the center span.

This month, crews will install a support structure under the middle arch of the bridge and begin to remove steel from its center span, the National Park Service said.

The next full weekend closure, according to officials, is scheduled for January 2019.

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