ARL NOW: County Board approves funds for Crystal City Metro entrance, $9.6M bridge replacement
Published April 8, 2025 at 8:15 AM | Arl Now
The Arlington County Board approved funding for a pair of big-ticket infrastructure projects on Saturday.
Officials accepted a $20.7 million grant from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, advancing plans for a second entrance to the Crystal City Metro station. They also awarded a contract of $9.6 million to rebuild the Arlington Ridge Road bridge over Four Mile Run.
Other key developments at the meeting included eliminating an early voting site and another clash between County Board members and immigration activists.
Crystal City Metro entrance
The $20.7 million DRPT grant for a second Crystal City Metro entrance represents the local match to an earlier grant of the same amount from the Federal Transit Administration.
Board members accepted the funding as part of their consent agenda. It will provide relief at “one of the busiest stations in Arlington,” Board Chair Takis Karantonis said.
The new entrance, at Crystal Drive and 18th Street S. will be located two blocks east of the existing entrance at 18th Street S. and S. Bell Street.
“The existing station entrance on S. Bell Street is reaching capacity during peak service hours and has limited emergency exits,” Karantonis said.
The project is expected to be completed in 2027. It will include a ground-level lobby with faregates as well as elevator upgrades.
Once the entrance is built, Arlington will transfer ownership of the project to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.
Contract for bridge refurbishment
Board members voted to award Fort Myer Construction Corp. a $9.6 contract million to rebuild the Arlington Ridge Road bridge over Four Mile Run at the Arlington-Alexandria border.
The contract includes a $1.9 million contingency allocation, for a total of up to $11.5 million.
The bridge was constructed in 1976 and an upgrade is “urgently needed,” Karantonis said. In 2018, a bridge-safety inspection determined that the span was structurally deficient, leading to closure of the southbound sidewalk.
The project will include:
Removal of the existing prestressed concrete superstructure
Construction of a new superstructure with steel girders and a concrete deck
Repairs to the existing substructures
Installation of wider sidewalks, bike lanes, architectural enhancements and improved lighting both on and below the bridge
The overall project cost is pegged at just over $16 million, with funding coming from a variety of local, state and federal sources.
Voting site nixed for 2025
Board members agreed to eliminate, at least for this year, use of the Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center as an early-voting site in advance of the June 17 primary and Nov. 4 general election.
The action came at the recommendation of the Electoral Board, which does not see a fourth site as necessary in non-presidential-election years.
“Typically, a gubernatorial election year has 40% lower turnout” than the presidential year, Karantonis said.
Voters will still have access to three early-voting sites for the primary and general elections: Madison Community Center, Walter Reed Community Center and the government headquarters in Courthouse.
Support for those seeking citizenship
Board members opened the meeting by detailing resources available to immigrants in the community, including support for those who wish to become U.S. citizens.
“A lot of our residents, especially those with green cards, will have to prepare [for future actions by the Trump administration], and we really encourage them to do that,” Karantonis said.
He noted the the Arlington Community Outreach Program offers free citizenship classes and in some cases can provide financial support to cover costs of $725 imposed by the federal government for naturalization services.
