A major construction project is underway on the Potomac River, where a new bridge—dubbed the second span of Long Bridge—is being built to accommodate both passenger and freight rail traffic. While the project promises long-term improvements, commuters are already feeling the impact. Some Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) services began experiencing delays starting Monday.
The project will expand the current two-track bridge to four tracks, effectively separating passenger trains from freight trains. The work is expected to continue through 2030 and is funded through a combination of local, state, and federal sources at a cost exceeding $2 billion.
A VRE commuter described her outlook as she adjusted to the new schedule:
“Progress is always good. But the inconvenience hopefully will be worth it,” she said while preparing to transfer trains in Alexandria.
Construction crews plan to perform much of the work within a limited four- to five-hour window during the middle of the day, when rail traffic is lighter. DJ Stadtler, executive director of the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority, explained the necessity of this approach:
“Because it is such a congested area, they cannot do their work as trains are going back and forth. As you know, Adam, we have a lot of people that go in and out of the District and actually through the District from as far north as Maine all the way down to Florida — across that bridge. We cannot afford, from a transportation point of view, to shut down the entire railroad in order to do this bridge,” he said.
Transportation planners are emphasizing patience and flexibility as crews work to balance commuter needs with the complex logistics of constructing a major rail artery in a busy metropolitan corridor.
Despite the disruptions, riders expressed optimism that the end result will improve rail travel efficiency and safety. Once completed, the expanded bridge is expected to reduce delays caused by freight-passenger conflicts, increase overall rail capacity, and strengthen the resilience of the Northeast Corridor.
“It’s going to be an adjustment for a few years, but hopefully the improvements will make our commutes more reliable,” said one daily commuter.
The Long Bridge project underscores the challenges of maintaining critical infrastructure while minimizing disruption to daily life, highlighting the need for long-term planning and communication between transportation authorities and the public.
Originally reported by Adam Tuss in NBC Washington.
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