(Washington, DC) The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is scheduled to close the Chain Bridge during select upcoming weekends, weather permitting, to allow for structural work under the bridge deck. This activity is necessary for the completion of the bridge rehabilitation project that began last year and is expected to end in November.

During this structural work the bridge must remain free of any weight bearing loads. Bridge closures will apply to vehicular traffic, cyclists and pedestrians and are scheduled to occur as follows:

• 8pm on Friday, September 17 thru 5 am on Monday, September 20
• 8pm on Friday, October 1 thru 5 am on Monday, October 4
• 8pm on Friday, October 8 thru 5 am on Monday, October 11
• 8pm on Friday, October 15 thru 5 am on Sunday, October 17

If an additional weekend closure is necessary to complete the work it will be scheduled to occur at 8 pm on Friday, October 22 thru 5 am on Sunday, October 24.

Impact on Traffic:

• There will be no access to the bridge from either the District or Arlington. That includes cyclists and pedestrians because the sidewalk will also be closed.
• Thru traffic on Canal Road will not be obstructed, but motorists will not be able to turn onto Chain Bridge.
• Motorists are advised to use alternate routes and river crossings including the American Legion, Key, Roosevelt, Memorial and 14th Street Bridges.
• Variable Messages Boards will be in place to warn drivers of the work ahead and re-direct them to alternative routes.

The current Chain Bridge was completed in 1939 and sits on stone piers from the 1870’s. It carries close to 22,000 cars a day and the last major rehabilitation of the bridge was done in the early 1980’s. The current repair project began on June 1, 2009.