'High Line'-Type Bridge Proposed Between Crystal City, Reagan National Airport

The High Line in New York City has inspired ambitious projects all over the country. A pedestrian bridge proposed to connect the Arlington neighborhood of Crystal City to the Reagan National Airport provides the latest example.

1 minute read

November 17, 2017, 2:00 PM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


If all goes according to plan, travelers and residents might be able to use a pedestrian connection between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and the Crystal City neighborhood in Arlington, Virginia.

The Crystal City Business Improvement District (BID) "is unveiling a proposal for a connection between the city and the airport that would make that walk a lot easier and more pleasant," reports Nena Perry-Brown.

"While details on the exact construction of either a bridge or tunnel have yet to be determined, the BID seems particularly taken with the idea of building a bridge akin to the High Line in New York City, a style and aesthetic that seems to have become the go-to model for jurisdictions looking to build walkable bridges," according to Perry-Brown.

The proposed bridge project will require coordination between the BID, the Virginia Railway Express, and the county of Arlington. The pedestrian bridge is designed to take advantage of a $1 billion capital improvements project underway at the airport under the guidance of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

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