Design of New Douglass Bridge Criticized

It was reported in the Washington Business Journal that the Commission of Fine Arts finds that the concept design for the replacement Frederick Douglass Bridge that will carry traffic along South Capitol Street across the Anacostia River is uninspired.  From the article:

During its Sept. 19 review of the D.C. Department of Transportation’s concept bridge design, the federal CFA called for a “contemporary approach” and a “bolder look” for the new Douglass bridge, according to a Sept. 27 letter from Thomas Luebke, the commission’s secretary, to Ronaldo Nicholson, DDOT’s chief engineer. 

There is $622 million set aside in the District’s FY2014 budget to fund Phase 1 (Segments 1 and 2) of the South Capitol Street Corridor project, which includes a new Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge, traffic ovals on either side of the bridge, and the reconstruction of the I-295/Suitland Parkway interchange. The new Frederick Douglass Bridge is currently designed as a bascule arch, similar to other bridges in the city, such as Memorial Bridge. Having the CFA's support will be important in order to obtain federal funding which is needed to close the gap in financing for the bridge.

Rendering courtesy of DDOT