New Wilson Bridge Will Soon Offer Traffic Relief

It's one of the worst bottlenecks in the region. You can practically set your watch to the traffic tie-ups at the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. But relief is coming soon.

So much work still needs to be done on the first span of the new Wilson Bridge; they can't say exactly when it'll open, except next month. But when it does, getting through gridlock is guaranteed.

After another long shut down this weekend, it could be smooth sailing. Even though the first span of the bridge will squeeze the four-lane beltway traffic down to a three lanes, shoulders on the new bridge should make a big difference when cars conk out.

Also, the draw bridge won't go up as often, because it's 20 feet higher.

Often when new structures are built, they're given new names. But not in this case. The new bridge will still carry the name of the 28th president. And Woodrow Wilson's Rolls Royce will play a major roll in the dedication ceremony. It still runs and it?ll make a loop around the new bridge.

The first Woodrow bridge opened in 1961, 40 years after Wilson left office. But it was named in 1956, the centennial of Wilson?s birth.

The governors of Virginia and Maryland and federal transportation officials will take part in the dedication of the new bridge next week.The ceremony will be called, ?Uniting the States.? After both lanes of the beltway are moved onto the next span by mid-summer, the old bridge will be demolished.The second span is to open in 2008.