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Washington,
DC – July 2022 / Newsmaker Alert: National
Park Service (NPS) Director Chuck
Sams, Federal Highway Administration Associate Administrator for Federal
Lands Tim Hess, and federal and local elected leaders participated in a
ceremonial groundbreaking for the rehabilitation of the northern section
of the George Washington Memorial
Parkway on Monday, July 18. The approximately $161 million project
is one of the largest infrastructure investments funded by the Great
American Outdoors Act.
The
parkway is managed by the NPS and serves more than 70,000 vehicles per
day, connecting people with countless opportunities to recreate along the
Potomac River. It will be rehabilitated in partnership with the Federal
Highway Administration, with construction expected to start this August.
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“This
historic investment in the parkway will improve visitor safety, preserve
the road’s historic design and ensure that future generations can use and
enjoy this scenic roadway,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “Through investments
from the Great American Outdoors Act, President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure
Law, and other construction funding sources, the Biden-Harris administration
is demonstrating our concerted effort to address extensive deferred maintenance
and repairs that will support good paying jobs, safeguard the environment,
and help ensure that we are ready to meet the challenges of climate change.
That’s right: every week is Infrastructure Week!”
The
George Washington Memorial Parkway is a scenic roadway honoring the nation’s
first president. It preserves cultural and natural resources along the
Potomac River from Great Falls to Mount Vernon. The northern section of
the parkway – from Spout Run to Interstate 495 – is the busiest section
of parkway and serves about 26 million drivers annually.
This
project is the first rehabilitation in this section of parkway since it
was completed in 1962. The project includes replacing the asphalt pavement
and roadway drainage system, redesigning portions of the Route 123 interchange,
repairing stormwater management systems and lengthening entrance and exit
lanes at some interchanges, while retaining and reviving the historic beauty
and significance of the parkway.
“George
Washington Memorial Parkway is much more than a parkway—it connects millions
of visitors with places to learn, play and relax just outside our nation’s
capital,” said NPS Director Chuck Sams. “Through funding from the Great
American Outdoors Act, the National Park Service is not only improving
infrastructure, but also expanding opportunities for visitors to enjoy
their public lands.”
The
Great American Outdoors Act is part of a concerted effort to address the
extensive deferred maintenance and repair backlog in public lands. Supported
by revenue from energy development, the fund provides up to $1.3 billion
per year for five years to make significant enhancements in national parks
to ensure their preservation and provide opportunities for recreation,
education and enjoyment for current and future visitors.
Construction
on the George Washington Memorial
Parkway will occur in phases beginning with temporary road widening
in the median along the northbound travel lanes and on two bridges between
Route 123 and Spout Run. Construction will impact drivers and park visitors
for the duration of the rehabilitation. A minimum of one lane of traffic
in each direction will remain open at all times. The project is anticipated
to be completed in late 2025.
About
the National Park Service
More
than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 423 national
parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local
history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at
www.NPS.gov,
on Facebook Facebook.com/nationalparkservice,
Twitter Twitter.com/natlparkservice,
and YouTube YouTube.com/nationalparkservice.
Media
Contact:
NewsMedia@nps.gov
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