The 11th Street Bridges, in southeastern Washington, DC are two vital links across the Anacostia River. Together, the two one-way bridges connect the Anacostia Freeway and the Southeast Freeway, linking regional traffic through the eastern sections of the District to the Federal core. The bridges also connect local traffic to the Navy Yard; the Marine Corps Barracks; Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue; Anacostia Park; and the Historic Anacostia neighborhood.
This current connection is incomplete. Southbound motorists on the Anacostia Freeway cannot access the bridges; nor can motorists on the bridges go north onto the Freeway. The ramps to make these connections do not exist. This results in commuter traffic to and from the north driving through neighborhood streets to get to their destinations.
The Middle Anacostia River Crossing study identified the need to improve the connectivity across the Anacostia River, to provide direct access both north and south serving regional and local traffic. The 11th Street Bridges study is an outgrowth of that earlier work.
