Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge, otherwise known as the South Capitol Street Bridge, carries South Capitol Street
over the Anacostia River
in Washington, D.C.
It was constructed in 1950 and named after abolitionist Frederick Douglass
. In 2007 the bridge was used by 77,000 daily commuters.
The bridge connects at its southern terminus with Interstate 295
and the Suitland Parkway
and thus provides access to downtown from those routes as well as from South Capitol Street and roads connecting to it. As a result, the bridge carries commuter traffic from Prince George's County, Maryland
and from Southern Maryland
. The bridge is part of the National Highway System
, as are South Capitol Street north of the bridge and the Suitland Parkway. Major re-decking work was done to the bridge in 1974 and again in 1988.
The bridge, besides being in disrepair, provides a gateway to an industrial part of the city that the Government of the District of Columbia wants to rejuvenate, including the area around the new Nationals Park for the Washington Nationals
, which opened March 30, 2008.
The bridge closed for major renovations on July 6, 2007. The $27 million project was intended to help extend the life of the bridge for 20 years until a new one is built. The bridge reopened August 29, 2007.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/28/AR2007082800985.html
The northernmost portion of the bridge was lowered to become an at-grade roadway with a new intersection at South Capitol Street and Potomac Avenue. Nearly three blocks of elevated roadway, which previously acted as a barrier to access across South Capitol Street, were removed and replaced with at-grade intersections that will help knit the neighborhood together. Additional improvements included replacing the deck, resurfacing and adding brand new street lights and guard rails.
South Capitol Street
South Capitol Street is a major street dividing the southeast and southwest quadrants of Washington, D.C. It runs south from the United States Capitol to the Washington-Maryland line...
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...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
It was constructed in 1950 and named after abolitionist Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass was an American social reformer, orator, writer and statesman. After escaping from slavery, he became a leader of the abolitionist movement, gaining note for his dazzling oratory and incisive antislavery writing...
. In 2007 the bridge was used by 77,000 daily commuters.
The bridge connects at its southern terminus with Interstate 295
Interstate 295 (District of Columbia)
Interstate 295 in the U.S. state of Maryland and in Washington, D.C. is a spur route connecting I-95/I-495 and Maryland Route 210 on the Potomac River to Interstate 695 in downtown Washington.-Route description:Although I-295 technically begins at the Capital Beltway , a pair of mainline...
and the Suitland Parkway
Suitland Parkway
The Suitland Parkway is a parkway in Washington, D.C., and Prince George's County, Maryland, maintained by the U.S. National Park Service. Conceived in 1937, it was built during World War II to provide a road connection between military facilities in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, and...
and thus provides access to downtown from those routes as well as from South Capitol Street and roads connecting to it. As a result, the bridge carries commuter traffic from Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County, Maryland
Prince George's County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland, immediately north, east, and south of Washington, DC. As of 2010, it has a population of 863,420 and is the wealthiest African-American majority county in the nation....
and from Southern Maryland
Southern Maryland
Southern Maryland in popular usage is composed of the state's southernmost counties on the "Western Shore" of the Chesapeake Bay. This region includes all of Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's counties and sometimes the southern portions of Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties.- History...
. The bridge is part of the National Highway System
National Highway System (United States)
The National Highway System is a network of strategic highways within the United States, including the Interstate Highway System and other roads serving major airports, ports, rail or truck terminals, railway stations, pipeline terminals and other strategic transport facilities.Individual states...
, as are South Capitol Street north of the bridge and the Suitland Parkway. Major re-decking work was done to the bridge in 1974 and again in 1988.
The bridge, besides being in disrepair, provides a gateway to an industrial part of the city that the Government of the District of Columbia wants to rejuvenate, including the area around the new Nationals Park for the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
, which opened March 30, 2008.
The bridge closed for major renovations on July 6, 2007. The $27 million project was intended to help extend the life of the bridge for 20 years until a new one is built. The bridge reopened August 29, 2007.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/28/AR2007082800985.html
The northernmost portion of the bridge was lowered to become an at-grade roadway with a new intersection at South Capitol Street and Potomac Avenue. Nearly three blocks of elevated roadway, which previously acted as a barrier to access across South Capitol Street, were removed and replaced with at-grade intersections that will help knit the neighborhood together. Additional improvements included replacing the deck, resurfacing and adding brand new street lights and guard rails.
External links
- DC Government Update news release
- South Capitol Street Today - Chapter 2 Discusses the bridge and its construction
- Pictures of before and after