Construction is complete on the $48.5 million Route 27/244 Interchange Modification Project in Arlington County, Va., including complete replacement of the bridge structure. Dewberry provided surveying and full engineering design for the project, serving as the engineer of record for the Shirley Contracting Company LLC design-build team for the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). The completion of the project represents the culmination of years of coordination between VDOT, Arlington County, and local citizen groups; and more than five years of professional design-build services to complete and dedicate the structure, known as the Freedmans Village Bridge.
The original single-span concrete arch bridge was constructed in 1942 as part of the Pentagon Roadway Network. Located on Washington Boulevard (Route 27) where it crosses over Columbia Pike (Route 244), the structure was replaced with two side-by-side bridges, four 12-foot travel lanes, an auxiliary lane between ramps, improved shoulders, and an open area separating the westbound and eastbound lanes.
The interchange was reconfigured to improve intersection layouts and access, and improve safety and capacity on Washington Boulevard and Columbia Pike. The new bridge is designed to improve access, traffic flow, and increase capacity. The bridge was lengthened to accommodate the addition of turn lanes, a raised median, and pedestrian and bike paths along Columbia Pike. With wider lanes and sidewalks, the design enhances safety, mobility, and aesthetics. Several ramps were also reconfigured and acceleration and deceleration lanes were added.
