Long Bridge Reconstruction

Photo came from the July 1983 Metro Memo Tabloid magazine, published by WMATA* 

The Long Bridge, which runs parallel to the 14th Street Bridge, is the only direct rail connection between Washington D.C. and Virginia.

Owned by CSX, the bridge sees 56 passenger and 23 freight trains each day, which is about 98 percent capacity at peak hours.  However, it is considered old and inadequate and in need to replacement.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has granted $2.8 million dollars for a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) study to investigate the potential for
reconstruction or replacement of the bridge. A new bridge would improve capacity, and could handle high-speed, intercity passenger rail, commuter rail, transit, bikes, pedestrians, and freight.

Bridge reconstruction would not only improve the region's rail network, but also expand opportunities to increase movement of goods from East Coast ports.

Read the original article: Long Bridge Project Gets $2.8 Million From Federal Government
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* Photo details:  14th Street Bridge complex, looking from D.C. into Virginia, with Jefferson Memorial in foreground. From left to right, respectively, the 5 spans are railroad, WMATA Metrorail, highway northbound, highway express, and highway southbound. The series of high-rise buildings in the distance is Crystal City, and the north end of Washington National Airport is visible at the left upper part of the photo. A Yellow Line train is visible in the center of the Metrorail bridge.