Benning Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Benning Bridge is a beam bridge
carrying Benning Road
over the Anacostia River
and Kingman Island. It is a six-lane bridge with pedestrian lanes on both sides. A separate Washington Metro
bridge carrying the Blue
and Orange
lines crosses over the bridge near its western terminus, and parallels the bridge on the north.
(in which then controlled the area which would later become the District of Columbia) issued a charter to Benjamin Stoddert
, Thomas Law, and John Templeman to build a bridge across the Anacostia River. Stoddert owned land (known as "Long Meadows") on the eastern shore of the Anacostia River, and a bridge would have helped him develop him land. The right to build a bridge was not exercised until 1805, when Chain Bridge was swept away during floods. Stoddert then formed the Anacostia Bridge Co., and that same year erected a $20,000 wooden bridge known as Stoddert's Bridge in this location. In the 1790s, "Captain" William Benning came from Virginia and purchased 330 acres (1.3 km²) of land on the western end of Stoddert's Bridge. The site was one of the first crossings over the Anacostia River. The bridge and "Benning's Road" were important eastern routes in and out of the District.
By 1814, the bridge—now also known as "Upper Bridge"—was in disrepair. During the War of 1812
, the U.S. military commander of the Military District of Washington burned Stoddert's Bridge in an attempt to stop the British from invading the city of Washington. On March 3, 1815, the United States Congress
passed legislation reimbursing the Anacostia Bridge Co. for the destruction of its bridge.
The bridge was rebuilt in 1815 by Thomas Ewell, who renamed it Ewell's Bridge. In the 1820s, Ewell sold the bridge to Benning, who renamed it Benning's Bridge. Benning built a new bridge at the site in the 1830s (although not all sources agree on the exact date).
After a major flood in 1840, the bridge was repaired. It was purchased in August 1848 by the federal government and the toll removed. In disrepair due to the large amount of traffic over the span, it was almost completely rebuilt in 1868. The structure was replaced with a steel bridge in 1892, and a concrete bridge in 1934. A second concrete bridge was constructed in 1961; the old span now carried eastbound traffic, while the new span carried only westbound traffic.
Beam bridge
Beam bridges are the most simple of structural forms being supported by an abutment at each end of the deck. No moments are transferred through the support hence their structural type is known as simply supported....
carrying Benning Road
Benning Road
Benning Road is heavily traveled street in Washington, D.C. and Prince George's County, Maryland. The street runs from an intersection in the northeast quadrant of the city at Bladensburg Road, Florida Avenue, Maryland Avenue, H Street and 15th Street, southeast over the Anacostia River on the...
over the Anacostia River
Anacostia River
The Anacostia River is a river in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States. It flows from Prince George's County in Maryland into Washington, D.C., where it joins with the Washington Channel to empty into the Potomac River at Buzzard Point. It is approximately long...
and Kingman Island. It is a six-lane bridge with pedestrian lanes on both sides. A separate Washington Metro
Washington Metro
The Washington Metro, commonly called Metro, and unofficially Metrorail, is the rapid transit system in Washington, D.C., United States, and its surrounding suburbs. It is administered by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority , which also operates Metrobus service under the Metro name...
bridge carrying the Blue
Blue Line (Washington Metro)
The Blue Line of the Washington Metro in the United States consists of 27 rapid transit stations from Franconia–Springfield to Largo Town Center. It has stations in Fairfax County, Alexandria and Arlington, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Prince George's County, Maryland...
and Orange
Orange Line (Washington Metro)
The Orange Line of the Washington Metro consists of 26 rapid transit stations from Vienna to New Carrollton. It has stations in Fairfax County and Arlington, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and Prince George's County, Maryland. Half of the line's stations are shared with the Blue Line, and over...
lines crosses over the bridge near its western terminus, and parallels the bridge on the north.
History
In 1791, the state of MarylandMaryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
(in which then controlled the area which would later become the District of Columbia) issued a charter to Benjamin Stoddert
Benjamin Stoddert
Benjamin Stoddert was the first United States Secretary of the Navy from May 1, 1798 to March 31, 1801.-Early life:...
, Thomas Law, and John Templeman to build a bridge across the Anacostia River. Stoddert owned land (known as "Long Meadows") on the eastern shore of the Anacostia River, and a bridge would have helped him develop him land. The right to build a bridge was not exercised until 1805, when Chain Bridge was swept away during floods. Stoddert then formed the Anacostia Bridge Co., and that same year erected a $20,000 wooden bridge known as Stoddert's Bridge in this location. In the 1790s, "Captain" William Benning came from Virginia and purchased 330 acres (1.3 km²) of land on the western end of Stoddert's Bridge. The site was one of the first crossings over the Anacostia River. The bridge and "Benning's Road" were important eastern routes in and out of the District.
By 1814, the bridge—now also known as "Upper Bridge"—was in disrepair. During the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, the U.S. military commander of the Military District of Washington burned Stoddert's Bridge in an attempt to stop the British from invading the city of Washington. On March 3, 1815, the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
passed legislation reimbursing the Anacostia Bridge Co. for the destruction of its bridge.
The bridge was rebuilt in 1815 by Thomas Ewell, who renamed it Ewell's Bridge. In the 1820s, Ewell sold the bridge to Benning, who renamed it Benning's Bridge. Benning built a new bridge at the site in the 1830s (although not all sources agree on the exact date).
After a major flood in 1840, the bridge was repaired. It was purchased in August 1848 by the federal government and the toll removed. In disrepair due to the large amount of traffic over the span, it was almost completely rebuilt in 1868. The structure was replaced with a steel bridge in 1892, and a concrete bridge in 1934. A second concrete bridge was constructed in 1961; the old span now carried eastbound traffic, while the new span carried only westbound traffic.