For decades, a major river crossing between Virginia and Washington, D.C. has moved commuters, commercial traffic and travelers into the heart of the nation’s capital. Now the I-395 bridge over the Potomac River is getting a major facelift as officials invest $113 million to update the aging structure and permanently retire one of its most unique features: its drawbridge.

A $113 million face lift

According to an online report by Globe News Info, the I-395 Northbound Bridge between Arlington, Virginia and Washington, D.C. is being rehabilitated, with construction firm Skanska winning the $113 million contract from the District Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Work is underway and the project is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2029. The investment aims to increase the bridge’s service life, while improving its resilience and lessening the requirements of aging infrastructure.

The contract will be included in Skanska's U.S. orders booked during the third quarter of 2026.

Permanent drawbridge

At the heart of the project is a major change to the bridge’s 175-foot, or roughly 53-meter, double-leaf bascule span. Rather than keeping it as a drawbridge, the span will be converted into a permanent fixed structure. The change will replace the existing lifting mechanism and provide a more durable arrangement suited to long-term transport requirements.

The project will also replace the bascule piers’ vessel protection system and bridge barriers, and conduct rehabilitation work on the superstructure and substructure of the approach spans, adds the online report.

Made for the next generation of commuters

The report also states that the I-395 crossing is a vital link between Northern Virginia and the District and its continued reliability is essential to the region’s transportation network. The rehabilitation will replace aging bridge components, strengthen the bridge and reduce future maintenance requirements resulting in improved structural resilience and public safety.

The fixed-span conversion is also part of a larger effort to upgrade infrastructure throughout the national capital region.

The project offers transportation agencies an opportunity to solve long-term structural needs before they become more expensive or disruptive.

A big bet on infrastructure

The bridge rehabilitation is part of a broader effort by the District Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration to maintain and modernize critical transportation corridors. The contract also highlights Skanska's growing role in major infrastructure projects across North America. Construction is planned through 2029. It will be a long transformation, but the end result will be a more modern, durable connection between Virginia and Washington, D.C.Image Courtesy: istock