Tim Bracken, wtop.com Amy Freedman, wtop.com
WASHINGTON – The 11th Street Local Bridge opened Thursday morning, providing a direct connection between historic Anacostia and the Capitol Hill/Navy Yard area.
Initially, the bridge will carry two lanes inbound and one lane outbound as well as a temporary 6-foot separated walkway for pedestrians and cyclists. There will also be a ramp providing a direct connection to the Washington Navy Yard at O Street SE.
After Thursday morning’s rush hour, the existing 13th Street ramp — which currently provides access from Good Hope Road to the inbound 11th Street Bridge — will close permanently. Traffic will be re-directed to the new bridge.
With the opening of the new bridge and the closing of the 13th Street ramp, DDOT says that pedestrians and bicyclists will see the following changes Thursday morning:
- Capitol Hill/Navy Yard area: Pedestrians and bicyclists currently using the 11th & N Street intersection on-ramp will instead continue one block more south to access Anacostia via the new 11th & O Street intersection on-ramp to the Local 11th Street Bridge/Corridor. Pedestrians and bicyclists will continue along the new 11th Street Corridor and land at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue & Good Hope Road.
- Historic Anacostia/NPS Anacostia Park area: Pedestrians and bicyclists currently using the Good Hope Road/NPS Park ramp will access the new 11th Street Corridor at the intersection of MLK Jr. Avenue and Good Hope Road and travel across the river, landing at the 11th and O Street intersection next to the Navy Yard.
- Pedestrians crossing to either side of the Anacostia River will be protected from traffic by a concrete barrier wall until the local bridge can be completed this fall.
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