The pedestrian and biking trail across the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge between the District of Columbia and Virginia will be closed off for about a year starting Monday.
The trail is being closed to accommodate demolition and reconstruction work on U.S. Interstate 66.
In addition to the trail closure, the westbound off-ramp to U.S. Route 50 and the northbound George Washington Memorial Parkway off-ramp will also be closed starting Monday, the District Department of Transportation said in a traffic advisory this week.
Detours will be put in place during the closure period.
Pedestrians and bicyclists will be diverted to the Key Bridge and the Arlington Memorial Bridge.
Motorists will be directed to use exit 73 on I-66 and follow the signs to U.S. Route 50 or the George Washington Memorial Parkway, city transportation officials said.
Some have expressed concern about where the bicyclist and pedestrian detours are located. An anonymous reader told ARLnow that “they want us to use Key Bridge, which feeds into M Street NW, which is not safe for bikes.”
City officials expect work on the U.S. Route 50 off-ramp to be finished in March, work on the George Washington Memorial Parkway off-ramp to be completed in May, and reconstruction affecting the pedestrian and biking trail to end in September 2027.
In addition to demolishing and rebuilding the off-ramps, crews will build a wider sidewalk, put in new upgraded fencing and lighting, then continue with demolition work on the main thoroughfare of I-66, city transportation officials said.
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