Cabin John Bridge to reopen Nov

Cabin John Bridge to reopen Nov. 17

by Scott Herbstman

Staff Writer

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Nov. 7, 2001

The single-lane Cabin John Bridge will reopen Nov. 17, a month ahead of schedule, after being closed for 3 1/2 months for renovations.

During construction, bridge traffic has been detoured to Interstate 495, Clara Barton Parkway and River Road.

Area residents will celebrate the reopening with two parades - one starting in Glen Echo and one starting in Cabin John. Participants will meet at the bridge, where they will unveil three panels on the Cabin John side with pictures of the structure and historical information.

The Washington Aqueduct, a division of the Army Corps of Engineers that maintains the bridge, offered an incentive to finish the $2.2 million project early. Construction crews worked two shifts, seven days a week to finish the bridge early. Builder Corman Construction of Annapolis Junction, Md., will receive an additional $150,000 for the early opening.

"The bridge looks beautiful ... I'm glad the project went so well," said Nathan Cole, Washington Aqueduct's project manager.

Corman Construction used pump trucks - which are usually used to build tall buildings - to pump concrete into the bridge. Also, the company used hanging scaffolding and pre-cast the bridge's barrier walls to save time, Cole said.

Bridge work included installing a new storm-water drainage system, paving the road, cleaning the granite arch, and replacing the fences and the sandstone and pre-cast concrete in the bridge walls.

"The corps has done a great job," said Burr Gray, president of Cabin John Citizens Association. "It's nice to have the bridge back ... It's sort of a friend to the community."

The community has mixed feelings about the bridge reopening, however, Gray said.

"It's been quiet in that section [near the bridge], but the traffic on Clara Barton and River [Road], it's been very grim," Gray said.

Taking the detour to work in the morning added about 10 minutes to his commute, yet saved a few minutes coming home, since drivers avoided the area around the closed bridge, he said.

The reopening will benefit local businesses that suffered without the usual flow of traffic, Gray said.

"The merchants are very happy as the holiday season approaches," he said.

In September, Gray worked with merchants and the corps to change road signs during construction. The corps installed new signs saying the businesses were open and replaced "road closed" signs with "bridge closed" signs.

Dave Nugent, manager of Potomac Outdoors, estimated that sales have dropped 20 percent at the outdoor equipment store since the bridge closed. He said the loss was due to confusion caused by the detour route and signs.

"The signs helped tremendously," Nugent said. "It's still a little down, but nothing like we saw right when the bridge closed. Things are looking up."

Nugent said he is pleased with the early opening of the bridge.

"I like the way they handled the bridge ... having the deadline moved up," he said. "We're really looking forward to having it open during our holiday season to recover some of these losses."

The 138-year-old Cabin John Bridge -- also called the Union Arch Bridge -- was considered the world's longest single span masonry arch in the world when it was first built.

According to the panels that will be installed this month, a hotel was built in 1870 about 50 feet from where the bridge stands. The Cabin John Bridge Hotel had 40 guestrooms, several banquet halls, two bars, a barbershop, and a pool hall. When the trolley came to Cabin John, business expanded. The hotel added a theater and small amusement park with slot machines. In 1931, the hotel burned down and was not rebuilt.

Cabin John Citizens Association is organizing the parades, which will start in Glen Echo and Cabin John at 2 p.m. and will meet at the bridge at 2:30 p.m. Those interested in participating in the parades or ceremony should walk or park at Clara Barton Community Center.