Case Study: Woodrow Wilson Bridge in Maryland and Virginia: FHWA Leads the Planning Process for Bridge Redesign

The Woodrow Wilson Bridge project area is a 7.5-mile section that runs from west of Telegraph Road in Virginia to east of Indian Head Highway in Maryland along the I-95/I-495 Capital Beltway. The bridge component includes two new, side-by-side drawbridges with 12 lanes and 70 ft of vertical navigational clearance at the draw span. Ten of the 12 lanes are conventional highway lanes, and the two additional lanes are for alternative transportation options that may become feasible during the 75-year life expectancy of the bridge. This case study primarily addresses the project development process that occurred after the Federal Highway Administration signed its November 1997 Record of Decision (ROD). This case study is discussed under the following headings: Background; Major Project Issues; Institutional Framework for Decision Making; Transportation Decision-Making Process; Key Decisions; Lessons Learned; and Summary.

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/shrp2/SHRP2_CS_C01_WilsonBridge.pdf
• 
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  Strategic Highway Research Program 2, 500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC    20001
• Publication Date: 2010

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Maps; Photos; References;
• Pagination: 16p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge design; Case studies; Decision making; Institutional issues; Lessons learned; Planning methods
• Identifier Terms: Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge
• Uncontrolled Terms: Project development process
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Environment; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; I15: Environment; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01207175
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Oct 13 2010 4:33PM