D.C. Bridge Opening Avoids 'Apocalyptic Traffic Scenarios'

After about a decade of planning and litigation, and another six years of construction, the first part of the first of two spans to replace the old Woodrow Wilson Bridge between Prince George's County, Md. and Alexandria, Va. is open to traffic.

1 minute read

June 13, 2006, 6:00 AM PDT

By David Gest


"'There are no tie-ups, and traffic is moving across the bridge easily and efficiently,' said John Undeland, a spokesman for the project. 'The contractor deserves a tip of the hat.'"

"For those steeped in the 20-year history of the 7 1/2 -mile, $2.44 billion project to replace the decrepit old bridge -- connecting Prince George's County and Alexandria across the Potomac River -- it was a banner weekend."

"A good system of detours and alternate routes, Undeland said, helped ease congestion along the northbound Interstate 95-Capital Beltway approach to the bridge, which was shut down while workers finished paving the new span. He also speculated that area drivers probably deserved some credit for heeding the call to avoid the area."

Thanks to C. P. Zilliacus

Monday, June 12, 2006 in The Washington Post

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Close-up on Canadian flag with Canada Parliament building blurred in background.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?

As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

April 28, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Hot air balloons rise over Downtown Boise with the State Capitol building visible amidst the high rises.

The Five Most-Changed American Cities

A ranking of population change, home values, and jobs highlights the nation’s most dynamic and most stagnant regions.

April 23, 2025 - GoodMigrations

Close-up of smartphone with Zoox logo and screen with blurred image of Zoox autonomous vehicle in background.

Amazon-Owned Robotaxis to Begin Testing in LA

Los Angeles will become the sixth city where Zoox is testing its autonomous vehicle technology.

30 minutes ago - Smart Cities Dive

NYC MTA train on elevated rail with Manhattan skyline visible in background.

New York MTA Says No More Borrowing, Will Cut Costs Instead

The agency says it won’t take out any new loans to finance its planned improvements and is finding other ways to cut costs.

2 hours ago - Bloomberg CityLab

Tree-lined street with large old trees and full parking lane and one-way driving lane in Spain.

Research: More Complex Streets Are Safer

Streets that offer more perceived obstacles and distractions can force drivers to slow down and drive more carefully.

4 hours ago - State Smart Transportation Initiative

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO