By Caroline Woodward
On July 15, the National Park Service announced a final agreement to remove the historic, but structurally unsound, Foundry Branch Trestle Bridge, located at the southern end of Glover-Archbold Park.
The structure, owned by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, is on federal parkland. Its location in Glover-Archbold Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the DC Inventory of Historic Sites. The bridge is considered historically significant as the last remaining streetcar bridge in the District of Columbia.
Since 2014, the bridge has been the subject of feasibility and engineering studies to determine its structural integrity and potential to be adapted as part of a recreational trail. These evaluations revealed the extent of the bridge’s disrepair, determining that the structure poses a significant safety hazard to community members.
“Losing a historic structure like the trestle bridge is not something we take lightly. The NPS and its partners carefully explored every option to determine whether it could be safely restored, and removing the bridge is the only responsible path forward to protect visitors,” said Rock Creek Park Superintendent Brian Joyner in an NPS news release. “We remain committed to honoring the site’s history while restoring safe access for everyone who enjoys the park.”
While the plan and a memorandum of agreement have been officially released to the public, the official agreement is still waiting to be finalized. The MOA is a legally binding document that records the Park Service’s compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. It and all associated documents are available for public viewing on the National Park Service website.
Once the agreement is finalized, the Park Service will issue a special use permit to enable WMATA to remove the bridge’s rusted framework. WMATA will also complete restoration work in order to reopen the trail of which the bridge forms a part. This trail serves as the only non-motorized transportation path connecting Georgetown University and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital to the Palisades.
Restoration efforts will include completion of historic property documentation, installation of interpretive signage, preservation of the concrete trestle footers and landscape improvements. Glover-Archbold Trail, which passes under the bridge, will also be reopened after years of closure due to the structure’s disrepair and concerns regarding pedestrian safety.
According to the Park Service, these actions aim to support long-term visitor access, protect park resources and ensure that Glover-Archbold Park remains a vibrant place for the community. Neither the NPS nor WMATA have yet released the date when demolition will officially begin.