Wilson Bridge Gets National Award

I remember when I thought the thing would never get built because it of the inability of Maryland, Virginia and the federal government to agree on the financing. Now, the two new spans of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge are done, and a national transportation group has just given the project its Grand Prize.

The bridge was one of 10 in the running for the top award, presented to Maryland, Virginia and the District at the American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials annual meeting.

The $2.47 billion project, not only the biggest in our region but also one of the biggest in the nation, is still on time andon budget. And it looks pretty good, too.

While Beltway commuters who pass through the remaining construction zone at Telegraph Road may want to spit out the candles on this cake, I think the bridge and interchange construction -- and the traffic mitigation program that went with it -- have served as models for other major efforts across the region.