Outbound Douglass Bridge Lanes Closing

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AFTER FRIDAY'S EVENING RUSH HOUR, the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge will undergo its final weekend closure before shutting down completely for summer improvements.

The southbound lanes of the bridge, which carries South Capitol Street over the Anacostia River, will be closed starting at 10 p.m. and are scheduled to be reopened in time for Monday's evening rush hour. In preparation for the bridge's major planned rehabilitation, set to take place in July and August, Metro has announced plans to lower fares on the A9, P17/P19 and W13 routes. The D.C. Department of Transportation also will debut its Bridge Bucks program, designed to promote carpooling and ride-sharing among commuters.

Metro will reduce its fares on the A9 from $1.25 to 75 cents, and on the P17, P19 and W13 express routes from $3 to $1.25. In order to alleviate problems with detoured traffic during the project, Metro also will temporarily terminate these bus routes at Metrorail stations on the Green Line.

DDOT's Bridge Bucks program will provide $50 a month to 1,500 qualified enrollees who commute across the Douglass Bridge. DDOT also plans on providing transit advice through a public awareness campaign aimed at keeping commuters informed during the two-month rehabilitation project.

The project's goal is to lower the bridge's northern approach and replace three blocks of elevated roadway with at-grade intersections designed to better mix with the neighborhood. The site is adjacent to the new Nationals stadium, which is currently under construction.

» "DDOT Debuts ‘Bridge Bucks’ Program" [DDOT]
» "Metro to Reduce Bus Fares on Select Routes During South Capitol Street Bridge Closure" [WMATA]

Photo by Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post