25 June 1996 David Gendell, Regional Administrator Federal Highway Administration Department of Transportation 10 South Howard Street, Suite 4000 Baltimore, Maryland 21201 Re: Woodrow Wilson Bridge Dear Mr. Gendell: Please tell me about the proposals to replace the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. What alternatives are possible? Why does a 35-year-old bridge need replacement? Bridges are supposed to last about a century with normal maintenance. This one is spared the waves, salt water, and earthquakes to which some are exposed. What caused the rapid deterioration of this structure? Who is liable? Where will traffic go while the bridge is being replaced? A recent Associated Press story mentioned the possibility of combining a bridge and a tunnel. Is there room for both? Is there a concern about the bridge falling across the river during an enemy air raid? Peace, P.S. I originally sent my letter to 400 Seventh Street Southwest in Washington. It was returned to me with the notice, "RETURN TO SENDER: ADDRESSEE UNKNOWN NOT LISTED IN DOT DIRECTORY". I hope it gets to you this time. returned unopened, addressee unknown: 25 June 1996 David Gendell, Regional Administrator Federal Highway Administration Department of Transportation 400 Seventh Street, Southwest Washington, District of Columbia 20590 Re: Woodrow Wilson Bridge Dear Mr. Gendell: Please tell me about the proposals to replace the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. What alternatives are possible? Why does a 35-year-old bridge need replacement? Bridges are supposed to last about a century with normal maintenance. This one is spared the waves, salt water, and earthquakes to which some are exposed. What caused the rapid deterioration of this structure? Who is liable? Where will traffic go when the bridge is being replaced? A recent Associated Press story mentioned the possibility of combining a bridge and a tunnel. Is there room for both? Is there a concern about the bridge falling across the river during an enemy air raid? Peace, _________________________ U. S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration 400 Seventh St., S.W. Washington, D.C. 20590 Refer to: HPD-1 Dear _________: This is in reply to your letter to Representative _________, concerning the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge. Representative _________ asked us to reply directly to you on this matter. I regret that your letter to us was returned with the notation "ADDRESSEE UNKNOWN." The address you used is the correct address. Unlike other segments of the Interstate System, construction of the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge was authorized by a specific Act of Congress: Public Law 83-704 ("An Act to authorize and direct the construction of bridges over the Potomac River, and for other purposes"). The Act, which President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved on August 30, 1954, authorized $14.9 million for the bridge. Our Agency, then called the Bureau of Public Roads, began construction in 1958. The cost of the approaches and improvements to adjacent streets was borne by the States of Maryland and Virginia. The bridge, which opened in 1961, was designed to carry an estimated 75,000 vehicles a day. It is the only segment of the Interstate System that is owned by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA); all other segments are owned by the States. Although the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge is not subject to the environmental factors you mentioned, the structure carries far more traffic, including far more heavy trucks, than it was designed to handle. Today, more than 160,000 vehicles cross the bridge each day--more than twice the design capacity of the structure. All indications are that traffic will continue to increase for the foreseeable future. In carrying such heavy traffic volumes, the six-lane bridge is a perennial bottleneck on the adjoining eight-lane stretch of the Capital Beltway. Additional lanes are needed, but for structural reasons cannot be provided on the existing bridge. No one is liable for the deterioration of the bridge. Given the tremendous increase in traffic volumes, the bridge has provided a good return on the taxpayers' investment. Now, however, a replacement is needed before the deteriorating current bridge reaches a point where loads on it must be restricted. Because the FHWA owns the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge, we have taken the lead in developing the replacement project. We established a Coordination Committee of Federal, State, and local officials to oversee the project's development. Following review of the many comments received and all other information available, the Coordination Committee announced last September that it favored construction of two future lanes for high occupancy vehicle. The estimated cost is $1.6 billion. The Coordination Committee considered, but rejected, a tunnel option. The appeal of this option is that it would help reduce the impact of this traffic artery on Alexandria, particularly along the southern edge of the historic city. However, at $2.6 billion, the tunnel option was the most costly alternative considered. In addition, the tunnel raised significant environmental concerns and would require the dredging of approximately 2 million cubic yards of material, with disposal options limited by environmental and other issues. The possibility of "enemy air raids" was not a factor in the decisionmaking. You asked where the traffic will go while the bridge is being replaced. Because the replacement bridge will be on a new alignment, the existing bridge will continue to be used throughout construction. I regret the delay in providing this information to you, but I hope it proves helpful. Sincerely yours, Thomas J Ptak Associate Administrator for Program Development cc: The Honorable _________________ House of Representatives