Brookland Bridge is Falling Down, My Fair Lady

By Christopher Woodside

Over the past few years, students at The Catholic University of America have seen the surrounding areas of campus transform into a lively neighborhood, particularly with the opening of new restaurants, shops, and apartments on Monroe Street. The continued growth of the Brookland neighborhood was one of the major focuses of the Brookland-Edgewood Livability Study which was completed in August of 2015 and available online.

The Study that was conducted over a six month period may be serving as the impetus for a major construction effort that will be taking place in the near future as construction workers have been sighted scanning the bridge that overlooks the Brookland-CUA metro stop and connects Monroe Street with the other side of the Brookland neighborhood.

When asked for more information regarding this upcoming construction project, Laisha Dougherty, the Constituent Services Coordinator for DC Councilman Kenyan R. McDuffie, provided a copy of the study conducted over the summer, which highlights important infrastructural and livability data regarding the residents who live in the Brookland community. Councilman McDuffie represents the Brookland neighborhood in Ward 5 who also serves on the transportation committee.

The current project to replace the bridge over the metro station is being led by project manager Kelly Peterson of the DC government, but the beginning of the construction is still quite a bit in the future, as according to Dougherty said a construction team had not yet been selected to complete the project.

Over the coming years, students at the University should expect to see more projects like the completion of a new bridge and the revitalization of Monroe Street as the goals of the Brookland-Edgewood Livability Study are realized and the Brookland neighborhood becomes transforms into a leader in commerce, businesses, and recreation in our nation’s capital.