THE WASHINGTON POST • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2010
22 bridges from 21
Try to match each picture below with the correct Washington area bridge. These spans are the connective tissue of our area — and possibly taken for granted. Don’t be
B
A
ARLINGTON MEMORIAL BRIDGE
TYPE: Arch bridge with central bas- cule, or drawbridge (not used) LENGTH: Less than half a mile (2,128 feet)
1
CONNECTING: Connects Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial ACCESS: Sidewalks connect at both ends; the Mount Vernon Trail leads to it. PARKING: Paid parking at Arlington National Cemetery Visitor Center. On the D.C. side, there’s limited free parking along Ohio Drive SW and free parking in East Potomac Park.
MEMORIAL BRIDGE has long played a key role in local rallies, major funer- al processions and huge marathon races. The bonds of history are strong here, including the visual and symbolic connection between Lincoln’s monument and Robert E. Lee’s hillside memorial, Arlington House. The bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was intended as a memorial that would join the North and South. Fifteen-foot-wide sidewalks on ei- ther side of the bridge make the trek very inviting. You’ll also get close-up views of the “Arts of War” gilded bronze statues by Leo Friedlander — “Valor” and “Sacrifice” — at the northeastern entrance to the bridge.
C POTOMAC RIVER CROSSINGS CHAIN BRIDGE
TYPE: Steel-girder bridge sitting on stone piers from the 1870s LENGTH: Two-tenths of a mile (1,056 feet)
2
CONNECTING: Runs from Canal Road NW on the Washington side to Ar- lington. ACCESS: From the C&O Canal tow- path at Mile 4 on the D.C. side, and from North Glebe Road and North 41st Street in Arlington PARKING: A small free parking lot, accessible via inbound Clara Barton Parkway, is north of the bridge on the D.C. side. There is also a small lot at North Glebe Road and North 41st Street.
IN 1797, THE FIRST BRIDGE across the Potomac was built here because of the narrowness of the river. It was actually the third bridge that gave Chain Bridge its name: It was sus- pended by wrought-iron chains. Today’s bridge — the eighth one — sits on top of piers but retains the earlier name. Chain Bridge is one of the best
vantage points for nature watching. Bring your binoculars and telephoto lenses as the upstream-side walk- way makes it easy to spot shore birds, waterfowl and fishermen along the rocky shores, just south of Little Falls. The Arlington cliffs rise steeply from the water. A wide ramp leads to narrow unpaved nature trails and the C&O Canal towpath below. Or continue on to the Capital Crescent Trail along Clara Barton Parkway.
FRANCIS SCOTT KEY BRIDGE
TYPE: Eight-span concrete open- spandrel arch bridge LENGTH: One-third of a mile (1,635 feet)
3 4
GEORGE MASON MEMORIAL BRIDGE
TYPE: Fifteen-span steel continuous- girder bridge LENGTH: Under half a mile (2,265 feet)
CONNECTING: Links Georgetown and Rosslyn ACCESS: City sidewalks connect at both ends. PARKING: In Georgetown there is (very) limited street parking; using Metro, about 0.4 miles from the bridge, is best on the Rosslyn side.
TAKE IN PANORAMIC VIEWS of George- town’s waterfront or observe the lively kayaking culture that fre- quents Jack’s Boathouse while walk- ing across the bridge, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Contemplate the contrasting architecture of Georgetown Univer- sity, from its Romanesque spires to the modern tower of Lauinger Li- brary. Time it right and you might catch an aerial view of a C&O canal boat as it passes below, piloted by costumed helmsmen and pulled by two mules.
Although there are walkways on both sides of the bridge, they are narrow, so heavy weekend usage re- quires cyclists, walkers, joggers and stroller-pushing parents all to use caution. But, hey, the round-trip trek will make you feel a wee bit less guilty when heading to or from Georgetown Cupcake.
CONNECTING: Takes Interstate 395 across the Potomac, linking 14th Street and the Southwest Freeway in the District to Shirley Memorial Highway in Arlington ACCESS: The George Washington Parkway bike path connects, as does Ohio Drive SW at the Jefferson Me- morial. PARKING: You can park for free in the Daingerfield Island lot just north of Reagan National Airport, then walk a mile on the Mount Vernon Trail to the bridge. In the District, the Smithsonian Metro stop is about a mile away, or use free parking in East Potomac Park’s lots, less than half a mile from the bridge.
THE 14TH STREET BRIDGE is actually five separate bridges: three for au- tos, two for rail. The walkable part is on the upstream side of the south- bound span, called the George Ma- son Bridge (the other spans are the Arland D. Williams Jr. Memorial Bridge, the Rochambeau Bridge, Charles R. Fenwick Bridge and the Long Bridge). Wide river and shore- line views are worth pausing for. Notice huge pine cones in the tree- tops as you approach the D.C. side. Once you’ve crossed into the city,
it’s a pleasant 1.8-mile walk around the Tidal Basin. Keep this route in mind when cherry blossom time rolls around again. It sure beats try- ing to park nearby.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT BRIDGE
TYPE: Thirteen-spa ous-girder bridge LENGTH: Over half a CONNECTING: Links Foggy Bottom ACCESS: Upstream bridge goes from t the Theodore Roos ing lot to the Kenn Also, on the Virgin downstream end o footbridge goes o Washington Park down to the north velt Island parking PARKING: There’s parking in the Roo which is accessible way heading north the Foggy Bottom about a half-mile also, there’s limite tered parking on st Kennedy Center.
THIS NOISY, TRAFFI which carries I-66 tween Virginia and paradoxical memor tionist. You would while driving, but great views of the n Theodore Rooseve marsh below. And closer views of the and the vibrant wa scene heading to Georgetown waterf
D
ANSWERS: 1G, 2H, 3E, 4I, 5A, 6D, 7C, 8B, 9F
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136