Norton Asks NPS to Schedule Long-Delayed Fort Dupont Road Repaving Project

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today released her letter to the National Park Service (NPS) expressing her concern about the repeated delays on the project to rebuild and repave roads in Fort Dupont Park. Norton said that funds for the $4 million project, which was scheduled to be completed last year, had been redirected by NPS for emergency repairs of the Arlington Memorial Bridge. She wrote that “the Arlington Memorial Bridge cannot serve as an excuse for NPS to again ignore the needs of D.C. residents and emergency response personnel who use the roads in Fort Dupont daily.” Norton requested an update as to when NPS plans to begin construction on roads in Fort Dupont Park within 30 days.

“NPS has left residents in the dark about when the overdue road repairs to Fort Dupont Park will be completed,” Norton said. “NPS has specifically listed the roads in Fort Dupont as a priority, but has been quick to find other uses for the project’s funds. NPS must treat the Fort Dupont project as the high priority NPS says it is.”

Norton’s full letter is below.

Bob Vogel
Regional Director
National Capital Region
National Park Service
1100 Ohio Drive, SW
Washington, DC 20242

Dear Regional Director Vogel:

I write concerning the National Park Service’s (NPS) constant delays on the planned rebuilding and repaving of roads in Fort Dupont Park. While NPS has listed the project in its multi-year Transportation Improvement Program and has indicated that the project is a priority, funds for the $4 million project have been diverted for emergency repairs of the Arlington Memorial Bridge.

In 2015, NPS informed my office that the rebuilding design work was currently underway and should be completed by that summer. Now, residents have seen the reconstruction of the roads rescheduled several times. With time allotted for contracting and advertisement, NPS predicted construction would begin in the spring of 2016. In the meantime, NPS conducted "cold mix" patching throughout the winters, but in light of past patches, this is not sufficient.

I understand fully that the Arlington Memorial Bridge is in need of not only emergency repairs costing $5 million but also reconstruction that will cost up to $250 million. Because the Arlington Memorial Bridge is a gateway from the South and carries thousands of commuters and visitors daily, I have taken the lead in working with my House colleagues to find a funding source for the bridge. However, the Arlington Memorial Bridge cannot serve as an excuse for NPS to again ignore the needs of D.C. residents and emergency response personnel who use the roads in Fort Dupont Park daily. I ask that you schedule the rebuilding and repaving the roads in Fort Dupont Park have long needed.

Please provide my office with an update within 30 days as to when NPS plans to begin construction on the roads in Fort Dupont Park.

Sincerely,

Eleanor Holmes Norton