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Announced to the world in 1998, the $2.4 billion Woodrow Wilson Project will revolutionise the way commuter traffic crosses the Potomac River in Washington DC, USA.
The purpose of this project is primarily two-fold, the construction of the replacement bridge and the building of four adjoining interchange sections. Originally the bridge was built (in 1961) to cope with 75,000 commuter vehicles per day. However, at present an amazing 200,000 vehicles make the journey from Maryland to Virginia every single day.
What makes the current situation even worse is the fact that upon reaching the bridge, commuters are faced with eight lanes condensing into just six. As you can imagine, this causes a huge bottleneck of traffic coming off of the Capital Beltway which connects either side of the bridge.
The demand for this new ‘super bridge’ is so great due to the massive population growth within the Maryland and Virginia suburbs at either end of the current bridge. However, once the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge is complete it will boast an impressive 12 lanes meaning that far more traffic can traverse with ease.
It’s not only the wheel-based traffic that will be appeased, the drawbridge section will rise an extra 20ft above the water meaning that the amount of yearly openings will drop from the current 270 times to just 65.
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