West Glebe Road Bridge Reconstruction Project

Location

West Glebe Road Bridge at South Four Mile Run Drive, Arlington, VA 22206 View Map

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Status

In Design

The project has reached the 60% design milestone. The design includes wider sidewalks and separate bicycle facilities on each side of the bridge, in response to community feedback received in January and February 2020.

Using feedback received from the public through meetings and online feedback, County staff developed an Ideabook that reflects the desires of the community and links the bridge design to the Four Mile Run Master Plan and Design Guidelines.

Design-build contract

Arlington County and the City of Alexandria agreed on a design-build approach for this project, where a firm is hired to take the design from 30% to final and then build the West Glebe Road bridge. The design-build process includes proposals with specific art elements that enhance the bridge aesthetically, provide additional lighting on the Four Mile Run trail, and connect the design of the bridge to the communities of Arlington and Alexandria.

In April 2021 the County Board approved a $9.89 million contract, including contingency, to Corman Kokosing Construction Company for design-build services to replace the West Glebe Road Bridge. Design of the bridge is expected to last one year, and the project will go to immediate construction after the design is complete.

Responding to the communities’ concern for connectivity and the impact to residents living in close proximity, the bridge will continue to operate during construction but with reduced lane capacity. People walking or biking will continue to have access to the bridge through the duration of project construction.

Press Release

About the Project

Background

A routine inspection in fall 2018 of the West Glebe Road Bridge at South Four Mile Run Drive uncovered deterioration that required a vehicle weight restriction of 5-tons and closure of the sidewalks in both directions. The southbound lane across the bridge was converted for the exclusive use of people walking and biking. A similar inspection in fall 2021 found further deterioration, prompting the County to again shift lanes and the temporary walking path.

County staff are developing designs for a bridge that replaces the deteriorated roadway substructure and reuses the existing piers, which are stable. This reduces impacts to the watershed, helps reduce project costs and contributes to a shorter construction timeline.

Project Goals

The goals of this project are to:

Return the bridge to a safe operational condition for all users
Improve access for people walking, biking and driving
Advance the community vision of the Four Mile Run Master Plan
- View a summary of guidance from the Four Mile Run Restoration Master Plan (2006) and the Four Mile Run Design Guidelines (2009)

Public Process

Open House - February 2020

Arlington County staff, in coordination with colleagues in the City of Alexandria, hosted a drop-in style open house at Gunston Middle School. For those unable to attend the open house, meeting materials are provided below and feedback was collected online.

Meeting materials

Project Boards: Project Background; Planning Guidance; Existing Conditions, Constraints and Opportunities; Opportunities for Input; and Next Steps.
Plantillas de Proyecto: Introducción del Proyecto y Guías para el Proyecto; Condiciones Existentes, Alternativas y Restricciones; Oportunidades para Contribuir; y Pasos Siguientes

Community engagement and feedback summary