$2.8M Grant Awarded To Study Bridge Over Potomac River

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $2.8 million to study the long-term replacement of the Long Bridge over the Potomac River.

The 100-year-old bridge is the only direct rail connection between D.C. and Virginia. Two two-track bridge is used by CSX, Amtrak and the Virginia Railway Express.

The $2.8 million Department of Transportation grant, announced last week, will pay for a study by the National Environmental Policy Act.

A Department of Transportation reports says the bridge handles 56 passenger and 23 freight trains daily and is at 98 percent capacity during peak hours.

The Washington Post reports that the funding for the new study was announced last week as part of $600 million in grants for 72 transportation agencies across the U.S.
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