On May 15, the National Park Service (NPS) will begin a project to replace Bridges 23 & 24 on the Mount Vernon Trail south of Alexandria within Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve and near Belle Haven Park. During the project, trail users will be detoured around the construction area. 

Trail users will recognize Bridge Bridge 24 as the very short and narrow bridge between Belle Haven Park and Dyke Marsh.

The NPS will replace and widen the bridges from 10 feet to 14 feet. The NPS will also add new pedestrian safe handrails and rehabilitate a bench and overlook on Bridge 23.

Bridge 23 is the long bridge that goes through Dyke Marsh.

Construction will take place in two phases: 

• The first bridge to be worked on will be Bridge 24 (the northernmost bridge). Work will begin on May 15 and finish around July. Work will then shift to the larger bridge, Bridge 23 in July.  Work will occur on this bridge from July 2023 to April 2024, when the project will be completed.

During this project trail users will be detoured on the adjacent road (northbound section of the George Washington Memorial Parkway). The NPS will reduce the northbound section to one motor vehicle lane and install temporary concrete barriers between the road and detour on the roadway to protect trail users.  

The new bridges will be built to the same design standards as the recently rebuilt Bridge 12, featuring a 14 foot wide deck with railing that meets modern design standards.

The Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail needs your help to continue improving the trail. Sign up for a volunteer trail improvement event or Donate to Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail to help us purchase tools and supplies.

Below is a picture of the work sites as well as where trail users will be detoured on to a separated lane on the Parkway.