|
|
|
| Sat, Nov. 14 - - Mobile - RSS | |
|
|
Bridge reopens day early
Work on Woodrow Wilson Bridge finishes nearly a day ahead of schedule
Date published: 7/18/2005
By MELISSA NIX A major highway construction project finishing ahead of schedule in the Washington area is like a Hollywood movie. None of that stuff happens in real life. But yesterday, it did happen. The Woodrow Wilson Bridge project finished paving ramps to new lanes on the Capital Beltway 23 hours ahead of schedule, said Virginia Department of Transportation spokesman Ryan Hall. The weekend work's 57-hour schedule, which allowed for contingencies such as late deliveries and machinery breakdowns, anticipated finishing in time for this morning's commute. But by 6 a.m. yesterday, motorists were again flying down Interstates 95 and 495 and across the Potomac River bridge with ease. That wasn't the case Friday night and all day Saturday. Two of the bridge's three eastbound lanes were closed after Friday's evening rush hour. Northbound traffic on I-95 slowed to a snail's pace. In anticipation of 10- to 15-mile-long traffic snarls caused by the lanes' closure, authorities had warned motorists up and down the East Coast to stay away from the construction zone this weekend. Public service announcements broadcast on radio and TV stations got the message out. And motorists cooperated, staying away from the work zone or taking alternate routes that span the Potomac. "People staying off that road really did help," said Ryan Hall, a spokesman for the Virginia Department of Transportation. "Part of the success [of the project] was motorists heeding the warning from VDOT and the Woodrow Wilson project's staff," he said. But Hall also had a word of caution. "We hope motorists don't have a false sense of security next time because it went so well [this weekend] the only reason it went so well is because everyone did listen." Motorists can expect similar lane closures in two to four weeks--this time on the Maryland side of the Wilson Bridge, project spokesman John Undeland told The Associated Press. During this weekend's construction, U.S. 301 through Caroline and King George counties became the I-95 detour of choice. Northbound long-haul motorists were especially encouraged to take U.S. 301 to cross the river. But at 3:45 p.m. Saturday, even that detour became impassible--and U.S. 301 traffic became backed up for hours, well into the night.
Date published: 7/18/2005
|
 |
|||
|
|||
