Arlington Memorial Bridge Is Falling Apart, Will Close By 2021: NPS

The Arlington Memorial Bridge, a spectacular stretch of roadway spanning the Potomac River that takes drivers from the Lincoln Memorial straight to the gates of Arlington National Cemetery, will have to close by 2021 if funding isn't approved to rehabilitate the structure, the National Park Service said in a statement today.

The announcement comes on the heels of an inspection by the Federal Highway Administration last month that found that the bridge is basically falling apart, and it's only getting worse. If the National Park Service can't raise $250 million to repair and renovate the bridge, it will be shut down in a matter of years.

NPS has kept the bridge functioning with temporary repairs worth nearly $10 million since 2010, as well as another $5 million in emergency repairs that will start later this year, but it's not enough: the bridge needs a full overhaul, the service says.

"Memorial Bridge is a significant example of the immediate challenges we are facing across the National Park System to repair and maintain roads, bridges, and other essential transportation systems that not only connect people to the parks, but that also can be part of people’s daily commutes," National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis said in the statement.

Virginia members of Congress issued their own statement decrying the current situation and urging the approval of funding for the project.

"To the tens of thousands of Virginians, DC residents and visitors who travel across the Potomac River every day, Arlington’s Memorial Bridge is a critical piece of our regional transportation system," said Sen. Mark Warner in the statement. "The extended closure of this major commuter artery will be devastating to the economy and quality of life in the capital region. We will work together as a delegation to identify the necessary resources so the National Park Service can keep Memorial Bridge open."