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Francis Scott Key Bridge (Washington)
Encyclopedia
The Francis Scott Key Bridge, more commonly known as the Key Bridge, is a six-lane reinforced concrete arch bridge
conveying U.S. Route 29
traffic across the Potomac River
between the Rosslyn
neighborhood of Arlington County
, Virginia
and the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C.
Completed in 1923, it is Washington's oldest surviving bridge across the Potomac River.
bridge was designed by architect Nathan C. Wyeth and engineer Max C. Tyler. It was built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers
between 1917 and 1923, and was named after Francis Scott Key
, author of The Star Spangled Banner. The northern terminus of the bridge is just east of the site of Key's Georgetown home, which was dismantled in the late 1940s; near that site, there is now a community park honoring Key.
The Key Bridge replaced the Aqueduct Bridge. The Aqueduct Bridge was originally built to carry the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
across the Potomac to connect with the Alexandria Canal. After the Alexandria Canal was abandoned, the bridge was converted into a roadway. The Washington abutment
still survives and is located west of the Key Bridge. One pier remains and is located in the river near the Virginia shore. On March 1, 1996, the Key Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places
.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge spans the Potomac River connecting Georgetown in
Washington, D.C. to Rosslyn in Arlington County, Virginia. The bridge is oriented in a generally north-south direction. The Classically inspired structure is made of reinforced concrete, with eight arches. Five of the arches span over the river, while the other three span land features.
The original structure designed in 1916 and constructed between 1917-1923, included seven arches. The eighth arch was added in 1938-39 in order to span over the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Virginia. The superstructure was altered in 1955 and 1987. The bridge is in excellent condition.
The bridge is 1,791'6" long from the northern edge of the Georgetown approach to the southern edge of the Rosslyn approach. Of the five arches over the Potomac River, the central arch is 208' long, the two adjacent arches have 204' spans, and these are flanked by 187' long arches. The arches over the land include a 152' arch over the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Virginia and a 180' span over K Street and an 82' arch over the C & O Canal on the District side. The central arch rises 72' above the river, while the foundations extend 25' from the water's
Surface to the bedrock (when the water is low).
The arches are tripartite in form. Each arch consists of three steel arches which are connected to the concrete foundations. The middle arch is 22' wide and is flanked by smaller 11' wide arches on each side. Wood formwork was laid over the steel for the concrete. The spandrels above each arch were punctured by two, three, or four small arches. The spandrel 1 arches lightened the load carried by the large arches and formed a truss system. The concrete piers have superimposed large Doric pilasters which rise to the bottom of the superstructure of the road deck. The proportions of the arches and the Doric pilasters establish the Classical elements and style.
The original 1923 road deck was 70' wide. It included two 16' wide traffic lanes, a center lane for trolley tracks, and two 8’ wide sidewalks. The original superstructure had a cornice which projected 2' on each side and supported a 4 ' high, 12" thick concrete parapet with 6' long recessed panels on each side. On top of the parapet, at approximately 40' intervals were cast iron light standards. These standards were 7'1" high with a griffin leg and winged shield motif at the base. The eighth arch was added in 1938-39 in order to span over the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Virginia. In 1955, the trolley tracks were eliminated, and the deck was widened from 70' to 80'. The roadway was expanded to 66' wide and the sidewalk was reduced to 5'3" on each side, excluding the vehicular barrier which was also added at that time.
At this time, the concrete parapet and light standards were removed and a new 4' high, cast aluminum railing was installed at the edge of the new deck. A 2' high vehicular barrier was also installed at the edge of the roadway. The light standards were replaced with "cobra arm" light posts, approximately 30' high at 120' intervals.
In 1987, a new post-tension deck was installed, which increased the total width from 80 to 90. The roadway was maintained at 66 ' wide, while the sidewalks were widened to 9 ' 10. "At this time, the 1955 alterations were removed, and a new 5’ high protective steel railing was installed at the outside edge of the deck. The railing has 3/4" bars at 4 “intervals, which curve outward at the top. A precast concrete wall was installed at the edge of the roadway to resemble the original
1923 parapet. The new parapet is 2'8" high with 6 ' long recessed panels. The light fixtures, attached to the top of concrete pedestals, are 14' high and have fluted cast iron posts with acorn light globes. The lampposts are placed above the apex of the arches and at the center of the piers. Despite the widening of the deck, the bridge retains its original design integrity.
(U.S. Route 29), Interstate 66, and State Route 110. At its northern terminus in D.C., the bridge connects with M Street
NW, Canal Road NW, and the Whitehurst Freeway, which provides access to K Street
downtown. The northbound span has an exit ramp to the eastbound Whitehurst Freeway; however, traffic from the westbound Whitehurst Freeway to the southbound span must use M Street.
The Key Bridge is part of the National Highway System
.
Another bridge, also called the Francis Scott Key Bridge
(or sometimes the Outer Harbor Bridge), crosses the Patapsco River
near Baltimore
, Maryland
.
The bridge rises just under 100 feet above the Potomac river below (including the height of the railing).
Arch bridge
An arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. Arch bridges work by transferring the weight of the bridge and its loads partially into a horizontal thrust restrained by the abutments at either side...
conveying U.S. Route 29
U.S. Route 29 in the District of Columbia
U.S. Route 29 passes through the District of Columbia between Arlington, Virginia, and Silver Spring, Maryland, predominantly along surface streets.-Route description:...
traffic across the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
between the Rosslyn
Rosslyn, Virginia
Rosslyn is an unincorporated area in Northern Virginia located in the northeastern corner of Arlington County, Virginia, north of Arlington National Cemetery and directly across the Potomac River from Georgetown in Washington, D.C. Rosslyn encompasses the Arlington neighborhoods of North Rosslyn...
neighborhood of Arlington County
Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The land that became Arlington was originally donated by Virginia to the United States government to form part of the new federal capital district. On February 27, 1801, the United States Congress organized the area as a subdivision of...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Completed in 1923, it is Washington's oldest surviving bridge across the Potomac River.
History
The Classical RevivalNeoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
bridge was designed by architect Nathan C. Wyeth and engineer Max C. Tyler. It was built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
between 1917 and 1923, and was named after Francis Scott Key
Francis Scott Key
Francis Scott Key was an American lawyer, author, and amateur poet, from Georgetown, who wrote the lyrics to the United States' national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner".-Life:...
, author of The Star Spangled Banner. The northern terminus of the bridge is just east of the site of Key's Georgetown home, which was dismantled in the late 1940s; near that site, there is now a community park honoring Key.
The Key Bridge replaced the Aqueduct Bridge. The Aqueduct Bridge was originally built to carry the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal
The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, abbreviated as the C&O Canal, and occasionally referred to as the "Grand Old Ditch," operated from 1831 until 1924 parallel to the Potomac River in Maryland from Cumberland, Maryland to Washington, D.C. The total length of the canal is about . The elevation change of...
across the Potomac to connect with the Alexandria Canal. After the Alexandria Canal was abandoned, the bridge was converted into a roadway. The Washington abutment
Abutment
An abutment is, generally, the point where two structures or objects meet. This word comes from the verb abut, which means adjoin or having common boundary. An abutment is an engineering term that describes a structure located at the ends of a bridge, where the bridge slab adjoins the approaching...
still survives and is located west of the Key Bridge. One pier remains and is located in the river near the Virginia shore. On March 1, 1996, the Key Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
The Francis Scott Key Bridge spans the Potomac River connecting Georgetown in
Washington, D.C. to Rosslyn in Arlington County, Virginia. The bridge is oriented in a generally north-south direction. The Classically inspired structure is made of reinforced concrete, with eight arches. Five of the arches span over the river, while the other three span land features.
The original structure designed in 1916 and constructed between 1917-1923, included seven arches. The eighth arch was added in 1938-39 in order to span over the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Virginia. The superstructure was altered in 1955 and 1987. The bridge is in excellent condition.
The bridge is 1,791'6" long from the northern edge of the Georgetown approach to the southern edge of the Rosslyn approach. Of the five arches over the Potomac River, the central arch is 208' long, the two adjacent arches have 204' spans, and these are flanked by 187' long arches. The arches over the land include a 152' arch over the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Virginia and a 180' span over K Street and an 82' arch over the C & O Canal on the District side. The central arch rises 72' above the river, while the foundations extend 25' from the water's
Surface to the bedrock (when the water is low).
The arches are tripartite in form. Each arch consists of three steel arches which are connected to the concrete foundations. The middle arch is 22' wide and is flanked by smaller 11' wide arches on each side. Wood formwork was laid over the steel for the concrete. The spandrels above each arch were punctured by two, three, or four small arches. The spandrel 1 arches lightened the load carried by the large arches and formed a truss system. The concrete piers have superimposed large Doric pilasters which rise to the bottom of the superstructure of the road deck. The proportions of the arches and the Doric pilasters establish the Classical elements and style.
The original 1923 road deck was 70' wide. It included two 16' wide traffic lanes, a center lane for trolley tracks, and two 8’ wide sidewalks. The original superstructure had a cornice which projected 2' on each side and supported a 4 ' high, 12" thick concrete parapet with 6' long recessed panels on each side. On top of the parapet, at approximately 40' intervals were cast iron light standards. These standards were 7'1" high with a griffin leg and winged shield motif at the base. The eighth arch was added in 1938-39 in order to span over the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Virginia. In 1955, the trolley tracks were eliminated, and the deck was widened from 70' to 80'. The roadway was expanded to 66' wide and the sidewalk was reduced to 5'3" on each side, excluding the vehicular barrier which was also added at that time.
At this time, the concrete parapet and light standards were removed and a new 4' high, cast aluminum railing was installed at the edge of the new deck. A 2' high vehicular barrier was also installed at the edge of the roadway. The light standards were replaced with "cobra arm" light posts, approximately 30' high at 120' intervals.
In 1987, a new post-tension deck was installed, which increased the total width from 80 to 90. The roadway was maintained at 66 ' wide, while the sidewalks were widened to 9 ' 10. "At this time, the 1955 alterations were removed, and a new 5’ high protective steel railing was installed at the outside edge of the deck. The railing has 3/4" bars at 4 “intervals, which curve outward at the top. A precast concrete wall was installed at the edge of the roadway to resemble the original
1923 parapet. The new parapet is 2'8" high with 6 ' long recessed panels. The light fixtures, attached to the top of concrete pedestals, are 14' high and have fluted cast iron posts with acorn light globes. The lampposts are placed above the apex of the arches and at the center of the piers. Despite the widening of the deck, the bridge retains its original design integrity.
Description
At its southern terminus in Virginia, the Key Bridge connects with North Lynn Street, and via that street with Wilson Boulevard, the George Washington Parkway, Lee HighwayLee Highway
The Lee Highway was a National Auto Trail in the United States connecting New York City and San Francisco, California via the South and Southwest. It was named after Robert E...
(U.S. Route 29), Interstate 66, and State Route 110. At its northern terminus in D.C., the bridge connects with M Street
M Street (Washington, D.C.)
The name "M Street" refers to two major roads in the United States capital of Washington, D.C. Because of the Cartesian-coordinate-based street-naming system in Washington, the name M Street can be used to refer to any east-west street located twelve blocks north or south of the dome of the United...
NW, Canal Road NW, and the Whitehurst Freeway, which provides access to K Street
K Street (Washington, D.C.)
K Street is a major thoroughfare in the United States capital of Washington, D.C. known as a center for numerous think tanks, lobbyists, and advocacy groups.-Location:...
downtown. The northbound span has an exit ramp to the eastbound Whitehurst Freeway; however, traffic from the westbound Whitehurst Freeway to the southbound span must use M Street.
The Key Bridge is part of the National Highway System
National Highway System (United States)
The National Highway System is a network of strategic highways within the United States, including the Interstate Highway System and other roads serving major airports, ports, rail or truck terminals, railway stations, pipeline terminals and other strategic transport facilities.Individual states...
.
Another bridge, also called the Francis Scott Key Bridge
Francis Scott Key Bridge (Baltimore)
The Francis Scott Key Bridge, also known as the Outer Harbor Bridge or simply the Key Bridge, is a continuous truss bridge spanning the Patapsco River in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. The main span of is the third longest span of any continuous truss in the world.The bridge was opened in March 1977...
(or sometimes the Outer Harbor Bridge), crosses the Patapsco River
Patapsco River
The Patapsco River is a river in central Maryland which flows into Chesapeake Bay. The river's tidal portion forms the harbor for the city of Baltimore...
near Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
.
The bridge rises just under 100 feet above the Potomac river below (including the height of the railing).
See also
- List of bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia
- List of bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Washington, D.C.
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Arlington County, Virginia
- National Register of Historic Places listings in the District of Columbia