On Monday August 19, construction quietly began on the new
Rhode Island Avenue Pedestrian Bridge. Designed with input from the community, the bridge will provide safe passage over the CSX railroad tracks from neighborhoods in the community to the Rhode Island Avenue Metro Station and the
Metropolitan Branch Trail (MBT).
According to the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), construction on the bridge will take approximately 16 to 18 months to complete. By making it easier to cross the railroad tracks safely, the bridge will increase and improve access to transit and to recreation for residents and visitors.
The bridge design includes ramps on both sides to provide wheelchair and bicycle access and thereby enhance safety for all users. A stairway is being built on the west side of the bridge to provide direct access to the Rhode Island Avenue Metro Station.The bridge will link to the open section of the Metro station, thus creating a connection even when the station is closed.
The Rhode Island Avenue Metro is situated high above Rhode Island Avenue, east of and above the railroad tracks. For many riders, particularly those heading to the Edgewood neighborhood northwest of the station, the route has been circuitous at best. To cut down on inconvenience, people sometimes took dangerous shortcuts through fenced-off areas.
The bridge is designed in the style of an old railroad bridge. The truss bridge has an open design that will enhance visibility. Twenty-four hour lighting will augment visibility further and boost safety.
DC Councilmember for Ward 5 Kenyan McDuffie says the bridge project "is a priority." According to DDOT, the bridge design resulted from "unprecedented cooperation among numerous stakeholders" including DDOT, WMATA, CSX, utility companies and the community.
Although work on the bridge had been delayed nearly two years, the local community appears ready to welcome any evidence of progress. "We are enthusiastic based on the launch of a D.C. Department of Transportation (DDOT) project webpage for the bridge," says Shani, the author of an
August 21 post on
The Brookland Bridge, a blog about Brookland.