Woodrow Wilson Bridge
One of the most notorious bottlenecks of the Washington area is the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. Built in 1958 it carries both the Capitol Beltway and the I-95 traffic from Maryland to Virginia. Four groups share its maintenance and operation. The District of Columbia is responsible for the draw span; Maryland maintains the bridge structure, Virginia supplies water and electrical power, and the Coast Guard has authority over the raising and lowering of the draw span. Today it carries more than twice the amount of traffic it was designed to, making it the most heavily traveled drawbridge in the country. The weight of modern traffic has proved too much for the Woodrow Wilson Bridge to handle. Beginning in 1999, a new Woodrow Wilson Bridge will be built, and upon its completion, the old bridge will be demolished.
Facts and Figures |
Directions |
| Width: 90 feet, 6 lanes Length: 5,900 feet, Draw span: 212feet Clearance: 50 feet Traffic: 175,000 cars daily |
The Woodrow Wilson Bridge lies on the I-95/495 between exits 2 and 1. |
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