BRIDGES OF WASHINGTON, D.C.

One of the most remarkable developments resulting from the efforts to clean up the Anacostia River and turn its once-industrial waterfronts into recreational attractions is the complex network of trails, known as the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail. Developed and opened to hikers and cyclists in pieces throughout the 2010s, the Trail is now completed, providing a continuous connection between the regional trail systems in the Maryland suburbs to the Frederick Douglass Bridge at the confluence of the Anacostia River and the Potomac a few blocks south of the US Capitol Building.

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The trail exists on both banks of the Anacostia, meaning there are really two separate trails. While “Anacostia Riverwalk Trail” is a useful designation for management of the entire system of trails, or for general directions from other locations in the city, it is not very useful for signage to users of the trail itself, who may need to understand which side of the river they are on. Another complication is that the Anacostia River curves, so a directional designation is problematic. For the segment north of the Sousa Bridge on Pennsylvania Avenue, signs indicating directions to the “East Bank Trail” of the “West Bank Trail” are useful. However, south of the Sousa Bridge, the river curves. What had been the “West Bank Trail” is now really on the north bank, and what had been the “East Bank Trail” is now really on the south. What this has resulted in is maps and websites showing the location of the “Anacostia Riverwalk Trail”, while on-the-ground signs on the northern bank of the trail call it the “West Bank Trail”, and signs on the southern bank call it the “East Bank Trail.”

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The trail begins on the west bank of the river for a short distance, then crosses the small Bladensburg Park Pedestrian Bridge into the Bladensburg Waterfront Park on the east bank. This East Bank Trail crosses into the District about a mile south of Bladensburg, crossing under the U.S. Route 50 and Amtrak Northeast Corridor bridges before entering the Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens.

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The U.S. Route 50/New York Avenue Bridge is a relatively uninteresting, high-speed highway bridge constructed in 1952. It does not have pedestrian sidewalks, is not of unusual construction, and includes no extraneous decorations or commemorations. It cannot be visited as a tourist or for recreation, and neither the bridge nor its location are particularly historic. However, it is a good example of “parkitecture”, found throughout Washington, DC, in which stone facing is used to spruce up the appearance of relatively unattractive concrete piers.

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Crossing the Anacostia a few hundred feet south of the New York Avenue Bridge is the Amtrak Northeast Corridor Rail Bridge. Again, this is a visually uninteresting railroad bridge that has no pedestrian access or tourist attraction. The bridge is, however, historic, having originally been constructed in 1903. The bridge was the site of a famous derailment of the Crescent Limited passenger train during a hurricane in 1933. The foundations of the piers had been weakened by scour from floodwater, and collapsed under the weight of the train, throwing the locomotive and several passenger cars into the river. The engineer and fireman were killed, and thirteen passengers were injured. The bridge was quickly reconstructed, and still carries the Amtrak Railroad Northeast Corridor trains from Union Station near the Capitol to points north including Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston.

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Although neither bridge is accessible for tourism or recreation, the East Bank Trail does pass beneath the eastern end of both bridges, providing an opportunity to stop for viewing and photos. In addition to following the East Bank Trail on foot or bicycle from points north or south, the trail beneath the bridges can be accessed by parking at the Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens and walking along a short trail to the river.

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There is a more extensive discussion of the eight-mile trail system, and the various points of interest that can be found on the way, in my book, Bridges of Washington, DC: A History and Guide.