Rehabilitation Work Begins On Bridge Over I-395 In Shirlington Area

ARLINGTON, VA — The Virginia Department of Transportation has begun work on the South Abingdon Street bridge over Interstate 395 in Arlington to improve driver, bicyclist and pedestrian safety and extend the overall life of the bridge.

The bridge, located between the King Street and Shirlington Circle exits on I-395, was built in 1970 and rehabilitated in 1994.

The $8.4 million project includes:

• Resurfacing the concrete bridge deck and closing deck joints.
• Repairing concrete piers and abutments.
• Adding protective concrete barriers adjacent to piers.
• Extending and adding concrete in-fill walls between piers.
• Replacing bearings and reconstructing bearing seats.

The project also will include re-striping the bridge’s bicycle lanes. The existing sidewalks on both sides of the bridge will remain when the project is completed, VDOT said.

During construction, daytime lane closures may be scheduled along the I-395 general purpose lanes, the 395 Express Lanes and South Abingdon Street. Overnight lane closures may also be scheduled on I-395 and the 395 Express Lanes. When one sidewalk along the bridge is closed, pedestrians will be detoured to the sidewalk on the opposite side, according to VDOT.

The project is financed with federal and state funding, including State of Good Repair funds used for bridges. Work on the South Abingdon Street bridge project is scheduled for completion in late 2024.