(Washington, DC) The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is hosting a public meeting on Thursday, April 26, 2012 to solicit input on the preliminary engineering design options that are being considered to replace the 27th Street Bridge over Broad Branch.

The current bridge was built in 1950 and has far outlived its intended service life. This bridge is currently located just east of the Broad Branch Road and 27th Street intersection in Northwest Washington.

DDOT plans to start replacing the existing bridge by 2013 with an entirely new structure that will be aesthetically compatible with the surrounding National Park setting. To prevent water from flowing over the bridge during heavy rainfall, the new bridge will also be longer to create a larger opening that allows for more water to flow underneath the bridge deck. To ensure a safe passageway for pedestrians the new bridge will be widened to include a sidewalk. DDOT is also considering adding a bike lane to the new bridge.

As part of the meeting the project design team will provide details on the schedule and status of the bridge design. Residents are encouraged to attend and provide input.

For more information about this meeting or the 27th Street Bridge design project please contact DDOT Project Manager Zahra Dorriz at (202) 671-4584 or zahra.dorriz@dc.gov.

DDOT is committed to ensuring that no person is excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, its projects, programs, and services on the basis of race, color, national origin, or gender, as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 or on the basis of disability as provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

If you need special accommodations or language assistance services (translation or interpretation), please contact Zahra Dorriz at (202) 671-4584 or zahra.dorriz@dc.gov in advance of the meeting. These services will be provided free of charge.