Theodore Roosevelt Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Theodore Roosevelt Bridge |
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| Carries | 7 lanes (1 reversible) of   I-66 / US 50 |
| Crosses | Potomac River |
| Locale | Washington, D.C. and the Rosslyn section of Arlington, Virginia |
| Other name(s) | Teddy Roosevelt Bridge, Roosevelt Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Girder |
| Material | Steel, Concrete |
| History | |
| Opened | June 23, 1964 |
The Theodore Roosevelt Bridge is a famous bridge that connects Washington, D.C. to Virginia. People also call it the Teddy Roosevelt Bridge or the Roosevelt Bridge. It crosses over the Potomac River and goes right over Theodore Roosevelt Island.
This bridge is very important for cars. It carries two major roads: Interstate 66 and U.S. Route 50.
One cool thing about the bridge is its special middle lane. This lane can change direction! It's called a reversible lane. A special machine moves the concrete barrier to switch the lane's direction. In the mornings, from 6 to 11 am, this lane helps cars go into Washington, D.C.
The bridge is named after Theodore Roosevelt. He was the 26th President of the United States.
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Building the Roosevelt Bridge
People started talking about building a new bridge across the Potomac River in the early 1950s. They needed a way to connect Washington, D.C., and Virginia better.
In 1952, the idea of a bridge crossing Theodore Roosevelt Island came up. However, the group that owned the island, the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Association, did not like this plan. They really didn't want a bridge on their land.
Finding the Best Spot
For a few years, people kept discussing where the bridge should go. Many ideas were suggested. In 1954, different government groups and members of Congress worked together. They suggested the bridge connect to Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C.
It was also tricky to decide where the bridge would land in Virginia. They looked at five different spots. These included areas south of Little Island and various parts of Theodore Roosevelt Island.
Getting Permission
The president of the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Association, Frank Ross McCoy, passed away in 1954. This made it easier to talk about the bridge. In 1955, the association finally agreed. They allowed the government to use the southern part of Theodore Roosevelt Island for the bridge.
Later that year, a group called the United States Commission of Fine Arts approved the bridge's design. It would be a strong steel bridge.
Construction Begins
On June 4, 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a law. This law officially allowed the bridge to be built. It also gave the bridge its name: the "Theodore Roosevelt Bridge."
Construction on the bridge started in 1960. It took about four years to build. The Theodore Roosevelt Bridge officially opened to traffic on June 23, 1964.
Keeping the Bridge Safe
The Theodore Roosevelt Bridge needs to be checked and repaired sometimes, just like any big structure. In 2013, some small repair work was done.
After that, in 2014, inspectors looked at the bridge again. They found that more repairs were needed. Because there were many other bridges in the city that also needed fixing, the big repairs for the Roosevelt Bridge were planned for 2021.
