11th Street Bridges

11th Street Bridges
Antony-22 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	11th Street Bridges
Carries	Interstate 695, Anacostia Riverwalk Trail
Crosses	Anacostia River
Locale	Washington, D.C.
Maint	District Department of Transportation
Design	Girder bridge, Cable-stayed bridge
Length	~2,800 feet (main spans)
Lanes	10
Open	2013 (new spans)
Coordinates	38, 52, 15, N...

11th Street Bridges are a complex of three major bridges spanning the Anacostia River in the southeastern quadrant of Washington, D.C.. The structures serve as a critical link between the Capitol Hill and Anacostia neighborhoods, carrying the Interstate 695 freeway and providing key access to the Washington Navy Yard and Joint Base Anacostia–Bolling. The current configuration, completed in the 2010s, replaced aging mid-20th century spans with modern infrastructure designed to improve traffic flow and multimodal connectivity.

History

The original crossing at this site was a toll bridge constructed in the 1820s, connecting the rural Prince George's County, Maryland with the growing capital city. The first major highway bridge, a pair of through truss structures, opened in the early 1960s as part of the Interstate Highway System construction boom under the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956. These bridges quickly became a notorious bottleneck on the Southeast Freeway and were structurally deficient, prompting the District Department of Transportation to plan a full replacement. The project gained urgency following the 2001 closure of the nearby Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge for emergency repairs, which diverted significant traffic onto the already strained 11th Street spans.

Design and construction

The modern bridge complex consists of three distinct, parallel structures designed by the engineering firm Parsons Corporation. The primary element is a ten-lane, precast concrete girder bridge carrying the mainline of Interstate 695. Flanking it are two separate, signature spans: a southbound local bridge and a dedicated, stunning cable-stayed bridge for northbound traffic and the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail. The cable-stayed portion features a single, asymmetrical pylon rising 200 feet above the river, with cables fanning to support the deck. Construction, led by a joint venture of Skanska and Facchina Construction Company, began in 2009 and utilized accelerated bridge construction techniques to minimize disruption. The new bridges opened in phases, with the final span completed in 2013.

Traffic and usage

The bridges form a vital component of the Capital Beltway inner loop, handling over 100,000 vehicles daily between Interstate 295 and Interstate 395. They provide a direct route for commuters from Prince George's County, Maryland to downtown Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia. Beyond automotive traffic, the dedicated bridge for the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail has significantly enhanced bicycle and pedestrian access, linking the trail networks of Anacostia Park and the Kingman Island area to the National Mall. The structures also serve critical emergency and military functions, providing access to the Washington Navy Yard and United States Coast Guard Headquarters.

Impact and significance

The bridge replacement project is considered one of the most significant infrastructure achievements in modern Washington, D.C. history. It eliminated a major choke point in the regional transportation network, improving reliability for the Southeast Freeway and reducing travel times. The inclusion of the dedicated trail bridge was a landmark victory for active transportation advocates, physically and symbolically reconnecting the historically divided communities of Capitol Hill and Anacostia. The project also spurred economic development initiatives along the Anacostia Riverfront, including projects near the St. Elizabeths East campus and the Barry Farm redevelopment.

Future developments

While the main bridges are complete, associated projects continue to enhance the corridor. Plans are underway to fully integrate the bridge's trail connections with the expanding Anacostia Riverwalk Trail system and the proposed Anacostia Waterfront Initiative. The District Department of Transportation also studies potential bus rapid transit or light rail uses for the dedicated local bridge structure to improve Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority service. Long-term visions, such as those outlined in the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital, consider the bridges a central node for future high-capacity transit crossing the Anacostia River to serve growing populations in Ward 8.

Category:Bridges in Washington, D.C. Category:Anacostia River Category:Buildings and structures completed in 2013 Category:Transportation in Washington, D.C.