DDOT Meeting on the Future of the Hopscotch Bridge 6/21

 

A great night shot of the hopscotch bridge kids by Flickr user takomabibelot (from the Frozen Tropics Flickr pool)

The District Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting Thursday, June 21st (6–8pm) to provide information and gather feedback from the public on the potential repair or replacement of the hopscotch bridge. DDOT is currently evaluating whether the bridge can be repaired, or will need to be replaced.



If you can't make the meeting, don't worry. It's the first in what is sure to be a series of meetings, and all materials from this meeting will be posted on the project website (https://www.hstreetbridgeproject.com) within 24 hours. If you wish to offer feedback, DDOT says you can do so by leaving a comment on the "Get Involved!" section of the website.  I don't currently see such a section, but it will presumably be added prior to the meeting.

DDOT is apparently a fan of dad jokes, as the following appear in the About section: "DISTRICT RESIDENTS AND COMMUTERS will be impacted by this project. DDOT will engage with you to discuss how we cross this NEW bridge – together."

Replacing the bridge would involve temporarily removing the streetcar stop on the bridge, and rerouting local buses such as the the X2, X1, X9, and D8. For more information on the project, or to sign up for update, send an email to  info@hstreetbridgeproject.com.

What: H Street Bridge Public Meeting No. 1
Date: Thursday, June 21st
Time: 6–8pm (with 6:30 presentation)
Location: Northeast Neighborhood Library Meeting Room (330 7th St NE)

DDOT's project area map from the project website

If you need special accommodations, please contact Cesar Barreto at (202) 671 – 2829 or Ceasar.Barreto@dc.gov five days in advance of the meeting. If you need language assistance services (translation or interpretation), please contact Karen.Randolph@dc.gov five days in advance of the meeting. These services will be provided free of charge.

According to a fact sheet posted to the website, the project is estimated to cost $225 million, though I imagine that could vary widely depending on whether the bridge can be repaired, or requires replacement. The timeline is obviously still in flux, but DDOT hopes to start construction in mid-2020, and to complete construction in 2023.

Speaking of the bridge, did you ever wonder how it went from the H Street Bridge to the Hopscotch Bridge? This 1997 Washington Post article from Courtland Milloy ("BRIDGE GOES FROM GRAY TO GRACEFUL") explains the origin of the tile children playing hopscotch.