Long Bridge | |
|---|---|
&sq=crain_ford&lang=en&file=File:Long_Bridge,_Washington,_D.C._LCCN2004677105_(cropped).jpg) The Long Bridge seen from the Potomac River shore in Northern Virginia in 1861 | |
| Coordinates | 38°52′29″N 77°02′18″W / 38.87477°N 77.03847°W |
| Carries | 1809–1870: Pedestrians, horses, carriages, railroad 1872–1906: Pedestrians, horses, vehicles, railroad, streetcars 1904–Present: Railroad only (Amtrak/VRE/CSX) |
| Crosses | Potomac River |
| Locale | Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Other name(s) | Washington Bridge (early 1800s), Long Bridge across the Potomac (early 1800s), Potomac Bridge (early 1800s), Turnpike Bridge (late 1800's), Railroad Bridge (20th Century) |
| Owner | CSX |
| Characteristics | |
| Material | 1809–1870: Timber 1872–1906: Timber 1904–Present: Steel and timber |
| Total length | 1809–1870: 5,000 ft (1,500 m) 1872–1906: 4,680 ft (1,430 m) 1904–Present: 2,528.5 ft (770.7 m) |
| Capacity | 96 trains per day[1]: 12 |
| Rail characteristics | |
| No. of tracks | 2 |
| History | |
| Opened | 1809 |
| Rebuilt | 1863, 1884, 1904, and 1942 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 79 trains per day (as of 2013[update]):[1]: 27–28
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| Location | |
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Long Bridge is the common name used for three successive bridges connecting Washington, D.C., to Arlington, Virginia, over the Potomac River. The first was built in 1808 for foot, horse and stagecoach traffic, and bridges in the vicinity were repaired and replaced several times in the 19th century. The current bridge was built in 1904 and substantially modified in 1942. It has only been used for railroad traffic and is owned by CSX Transportation.
The bridge is used by CSX freight trains, Amtrak intercity trains and Virginia Railway Express commuter trains. Norfolk Southern Railway also has trackage rights on the bridge but does not currently exercise those rights.[2]
In 2019, Virginia announced that it would help fund and build a new rail bridge parallel to the existing one to double its capacity, following the plans that have been studied by the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) since 2011.[3] Construction of the replacement bridge began in October 2024.[4]
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
LBSFR201501was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "The Long Bridge Project - Notice of Intent No. 166" (PDF). Federal Register. 81 (166): 59036–59038. August 26, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 12, 2017.
- ^ Lazo, Luz (December 19, 2019). "Virginia to build Long Bridge and acquire CSX right of way to expand passenger train service". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 19, 2019.
- ^ Kerr, Jacob; Wells, Ciara (October 16, 2024). "Construction begins on new Long Bridge". WTOP. Retrieved October 16, 2024.