Highways in Washington D.C.

[US 41]

Since Washington D.C. is its own district and not part of VA or MD, who takes care of the interstate highways and US Highways in the city limits of Washington D.C. Does D.C. take care of the roads or does VA or MD?

[NE2]

DDOT does.

It's not the only case of a city maintaining Interstates - Baltimore maintains part of I-83 (but not I-95 or I-395) and NYC maintains a bit of I-278.

[1995hoo]

Often it seems like nobody does.

[froggie]

In terms of transportation, DC is effectively a city-state, with its own laws, DOT (the "DDOT" mentioned by SPUI...refers to the District Department of Transportation), and non-Federal funding sources in addition to Federal money it gets from FTA (transit) and FHWA (highway).  The Feds consider it the equivalent of a state for these purposes.

[english si]

One imagines that the bit of I-95/I-495 in DC is maintained by MDOT or VDOT, for reasons of ease of access.

[cpzilliacus]

One imagines that the bit of I-95/I-495 in DC is maintained by MDOT or VDOT, for reasons of ease of access.

That part of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge was (re)built by contractors working for the Maryland Department of Transportation's State Highway Administration (SHA) and is maintained by SHA.  For a while, traffic incidents there were handled by the Maryland State Police (MSP), but then D.C. said that its Metropolitan Police Department (MPDC) would handle incidents on its (tiny) part o the bridge. 

Not sure where it stands now.

Relying on MPDC to respond means that incidents will take an enormous period of time to clear, since dealing with crashes on freeways is probably at the absolute bottom of its list of priorities.  Last week, there was a wreck on northbound I-395 (S.W. Freeway) in D.C. that took forever to clear, and as a result, backed up traffic on I-395 all the  way back to Springfield, Virginia.

[froggie]

In layman's terms, DC is out of the loop when it comes to the Wilson Bridge.  VDOT and SHA jointly own the new bridge.

[1995hoo]

I believe I read that DC formally granted an easement so as to be able to get rid of any responsibility for the bridge.

[cpzilliacus]

I believe I read that DC formally granted an easement so as to be able to get rid of any responsibility for the bridge.

Last I heard (note: several years ago, as the second bridge (Inner Loop/southbound span) was nearly complete), was that D.C. was (then) reasserting its jurisdiction to police that tiny part of the bridge and that MPDC wanted to have its officers (and not  MSP or VSP) respond to crashes there.

I sure hope that D.C. has given up that jurisdiction.   
Post Merge: September 15, 2013, 06:35:29 PM

I believe I read that DC formally granted an easement so as to be able to get rid of any responsibility for the bridge.

I have not heard that.  I hope you  are correct, for it is good news for drivers crossing the span.

[1995hoo]

I don't remember where I read that, unfortunately. If I did, I'd absolutely cite the source.

[NE2]

I don't remember where I read that, unfortunately. If I did, I'd absolutely cite the source.

Wikipedia claims it and http://www.wwblessonslearned.com/pdf/LP03A_MD_VA_Relationship_WWB_Ownership_Agreement_A484.pdf (p. 13) confirms.

[froggie]

During my 4 years in Huntington, I do not recall MPD responding to anything on the bridge.  MSP and VSP yes, and even Fairfax County Police (especially Fairfax County Fire&Rescue), but not MPD.

[1995hoo]

I don't remember where I read that, unfortunately. If I did, I'd absolutely cite the source.

Wikipedia claims it and http://www.wwblessonslearned.com/pdf/LP03A_MD_VA_Relationship_WWB_Ownership_Agreement_A484.pdf (p. 13) confirms.

Thanks. I know neither of those was my source (I wouldn't cite Wikipedia as authoritative, but I might use it to find a primary source), but it's nice to see confirmation. I'd never seen the document you linked, but that's a terrific source. Thanks again.

[cpzilliacus]

During my 4 years in Huntington, I do not recall MPD responding to anything on the bridge.  MSP and VSP yes, and even Fairfax County Police (especially Fairfax County Fire&Rescue), but not MPD.

Not so long ago (but long enough ago that it was the old six lane crossing), there was the infamous jumper with a gun on the D.C. part of the structure, near the draw span control tower.  MPDC insisted that they wanted to be in charge, and the bridge was completely closed for many hours. Finally, the suspect was shot with a "bean bag," and he ended up in the Potomac River as a result.  A law enforcement boat (I do not recall from what agency) fished him out of the water and he was taken to a medical facility for treatment and evaluation.

[1995hoo]

During my 4 years in Huntington, I do not recall MPD responding to anything on the bridge.  MSP and VSP yes, and even Fairfax County Police (especially Fairfax County Fire&Rescue), but not MPD.

Not so long ago (but long enough ago that it was the old six lane crossing), there was the infamous jumper with a gun on the D.C. part of the structure, near the draw span control tower.  MPDC insisted that they wanted to be in charge, and the bridge was completely closed for many hours. Finally, the suspect was shot with a "bean bag," and he ended up in the Potomac River as a result.  A law enforcement boat (I do not recall from what agency) fished him out of the water and he was taken to a medical facility for treatment and evaluation.

Per the Washington Post, that was in November 1998.

[cpzilliacus]

Per the Washington Post, that was in November 1998.

That is a long time ago.  Thanks for looking that up. 

Construction for the WWB had not even started yet (though the planning and preliminary engineering phase was winding down at that point).