THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, April 20, 1995               TAG: 9504200502
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B7   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS 
DATELINE: ALEXANDRIA                         LENGTH: Short :   46 lines

TRUCKS MAY BE BANNED FROM BELTWAY BRIDGE

Officials are considering whether to ban truck traffic on the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge while another debate continues over the future of the crumbling span.

The 34-year-old drawbridge has roughly nine years of usable life left, structural engineers who studied the bridge last year said.

But the bridge over the Potomac River between Alexandria and Maryland could last longer without the daily pounding it takes from big rigs.

``If we take trucks off, we may have 40'' years of use, said Fairfax County Board of Supervisors member Gerald Hyland, who sits on a regional panel discussing the future of the bridge.

The panel plans to unveil five preliminary drawings for a replacement bridge next week.

Wilson Bridge carries Interstate 495, the Capital Beltway, over the river. It is a major traffic choke point, especially when the span is raised to accommodate ships.

Engineers last year found signs of major stress within the span, but pronounced it structurally sound.

``The activity most damaging to a bridge is truck traffic, and we know there is a lot of truck traffic on the bridge. If the bridge shows signs of fatigue, the way to lengthen its life is to take off the most damaging part,'' said Maryland state Del. Carol Petzold.

Hyland and Petzold said taking trucks off the bridge now would be too disruptive, but could be the best option within a few years.

Trucks would be diverted to bridges several miles away, such as the American Legion Bridge between Maryland and the District of Columbia.

David Keever, a project director for the design panel, said the group is developing a ``weight restriction contingency plan'' that could eventually mean banning trucks.

In the meantime, costs for repairing the bridge and keeping it safe are escalating, from $4 million this year up to a projected $9 million next year and climbing, Keever said. by CNB