Tag: New A&W Long Bridge (Potomac River)

Wikipedia says: Long Bridge is the common name used for a series of three bridges connecting Washington, D.C. to Arlington, Virginia over the Potomac River. The first was built in 1808 for foot, horse and stagecoach traffic. Bridges in the vicinity were repaired and replaced several times in the 19th century.

…On July 23, 1864, a new, stronger bridge was completed about 100 feet (30 m) downriver. Opened on February 21, 1865, the new bridge carried only railroad traffic, and the old one was kept for other traffic. On November 15, 1865, with the end of the war, the U.S. Military Railroad gave the old bridge to the U.S. Department of the Interior; the new bridge became part of the Washington, Alexandria and Georgetown Railroad, leased by the B&O.

Sometimes the two bridges were referred to separately as the Long Bridge and the railroad bridge and at others as two parts of one “Long Bridge”.

Both the Turnpike Bridge and the Railroad Bridge were damaged in the 1870 flood. Railroad Bridge was partially repaired and continued to be used until May 14, 1872, when a new bridge replaced it. It was then removed in late 1872.

During the war, wounded Union soldiers were carried across the bridge to hospitals set up all over the city. The closest was Armory Square Hospital, a few blocks from the bridge.