Thousands of pedestrians in Ward 7 will be safer Thursday thanks to the reopening of the Douglas Street Pedestrian Bridge over Kenilworth Avenue.

“It’s safer, it’s wider, and it’s better lit,” said D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser at the bridge’s grand opening on Thursday. “It has improved sidewalks.”

At the inaugural walk across the new bridge, the mayor — joined by the city’s Department of Transportation and members of the community — pointed out that people of all abilities will have an easier time using the bridge.

“Whether they are using a cane or a wheelchair, they will be able to access this very important pedestrian asset,” Bowser said.

The bridge crosses over the I-295 corridor in Northeast and will help those that live in the neighborhoods of Parkside, Mayfair and Eastland Gardens get to the Deanwood Metro station.

The bridge’s construction cost about $17 million.

“I’m 61 years old, I don’t like going all the way around,” said Claude McCain, of Kenilworth. He told WTOP that the new pedestrian bridge will save him 40 minutes of extra walking a day.

The original Douglas Street Pedestrian Bridge was built in the 1950s and had become structurally damaged and was deteriorating, according to D.C. officials.

“It was low. It ended before the service lanes. It was really unsafe for pedestrians,” said Sharon Kershbaum, acting director of D.C.’s Department of Transportation. “This is an upgrade in every sense of the way.”

She told WTOP that nearly $14 million of the $17 million bridge was funded by grants from the federal government.

After the inaugural walk across the bridge, Mayor Bowser expressed appreciation to the members of DDOT that were in attendance.

“I want to say thank you to all the people you see in the yellow jackets because they were able to get this bridge up and keep the highway open,” Bowser said.

WTOP’s Ciara Wells contributed to this report.

Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

© 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

WASHINGTON (7News) — After walking out of the White House, relatives of U.S. hostages being held by Hamas said an hour-long meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Joe Biden left them with a new feeling of optimism.

They said after asking difficult questions and getting answers, that they could not share, they were filled with the most optimism they have had since the first round of hostage releases last year.

“We did get a commitment from the President and from the Prime Minister that both teams will be working by the hour in the coming days to put out an adjusted proposal to Hamas, and they understood completely and partnered with us around the urgency,” said Jonathan Dekel-Chen, the father of hostage Sagy Chen.

They also said they were well aware of the fiery protests taking place around the District that included the burning of an American flag and monuments being tagged with paint.

READ MORE | At least 23 arrested in DC as thousands protest Israeli PM Netanyahu’s speech to Congress

“People have the right and obligation to speak their mind,” said Dekel-Chen. “We all accept that. Some of it is hurtful because our loved one’s lives are in the balance, and this is not a political science laboratory for us. But as long as the rules of democracy, and as long as one doesn’t go over that line with hate speech and incitement, then that’s what democracy should be.”

The visit by Netanyahu stirred the anger of pro-Palestine demonstrators throughout the week.

The protests led to clean-up efforts on a relatively quiet Thursday.

READ MORE | Crews begin clean-up of Union Station’s Columbus Circle after Netanyahu protests

The families of U.S. hostages said they do not believe the election season and leadership change will set them back now that a change in the White House is now a certainty.

“On the contrary, I actually think it allows the President to be laser-focused on the things that are true priorities to him, and saving human beings, cherished human beings, 115 of them, eight of whom are U.S. citizens, is one paramount issue for him,” said Rachel Goldberg-Polin, mother of hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin.

“We’ve got a rare moment now where the current President of the United States and anybody who might become President of the United States, both Vice-President Harris and Donald Trump, are all aligned in saying this deal must get done now,” said Jonathan Polin, father of Hersh Goldberg-Polin.

WTOP/Kyle Cooper

Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images

Getty Images/Kent Nishimura

Getty Images/Kent Nishimura

WTOP/Kyle Cooper

WTOP/Kyle Cooper

WTOP/Kyle Cooper

WTOP/Kyle Cooper

Advertisement

The cleanup from protests outside Union Station, connected to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech before Congress, is underway Thursday morning as officials prepare for the prime minister’s visit to the White House.

Protestors used red, green and black spray paint — marking fountains, statues and walkways with symbols and words like “free Palestine” and “let Gaza live.”

The National Park Service has put up metal barriers around Columbus Circle, so it can pick up trash, and treat and clean the marble and stone fountain, statues and walkways, as well as the Freedom Bell, a replica of the Liberty Bell.

The park service says cleaning the marble and stone is delicate and difficult because paint seeps into it. They use a chemical actually called Elephant Snot to loosen the paint before it’s power washed. Several treatments, over the course of days, will be needed.

People passing by seem shocked by what they saw.

One man, Joe, told WTOP “it should have been prevented, I don’t know why they’re allowed to graffiti so much, spray paint so much.”

Another woman — who did not want to give her name — said she’d “never seen anything like this, it’s pretty bad.” Exiting Union Station into Columbus Circle, commuters stop, take pictures and some stand with their mouths open.

At least 15 people were arrested in the protests, police said, which shut down some streets in the area and forced Union Station to close some of its entrances. Some people missed trains, unable to get into the station on time because of the protests.

D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith said the department will continue to support peaceful protests, but must hold accountable those who commit criminal acts while in the city.

Shutdowns will continue on Thursday as Netanyahu visits the White House. Street closures are outlined below.

Posted closures during Netanyahu’s visit

The closures started on Sunday and are expected to last through Saturday, July 27.

The following streets are posted as Emergency No Parking through Saturday, July 27 at 3 p.m.:

• Virginia Avenue NW from Rock Creek Parkway to New Hampshire Avenue
• Jamal Khashoggi Way from Virginia Avenue to F Street NW
• F Street NW from Rock Creek Parkway to 25th Street
• 27th Street NW from Virginia Avenue to K Street
• 2600 block of I Street NW

The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic on Sunday, July 21 starting at 10 p.m. through Friday, July 26 at 6 a.m.:

• Rock Creek Parkway NW between Virginia Avenue and the Potomac River Freeway southbound
• Virginia Avenue NW from Rock Creek Parkway to New Hampshire Avenue (eastbound lanes)
• Jamal Khashoggi Way (southbound lanes) between Virginia Avenue and F Street NW
• F Street NW from Rock Creek Parkway to 25th Street
• 27th Street NW from Virginia Avenue to K Street
• 2600 block of I Street NW
• 27th Street ramp from northbound Potomac River Freeway

Traffic traveling south on Rock Creek Parkway will be diverted east on I Street from Virginia Avenue NW to Potomac River Freeway. Westbound traffic on Virginia Avenue NW will be able to turn north on Rock Creek Parkway.

All traffic from Ohio Drive SW will be diverted north on Potomac River Freeway.

Due to First Amendment activity, plan for intermittent street closures and traffic delays, D.C. police said. Police are advising drivers to consider alternative routes.

Motorists can access businesses and residences around the Watergate Hotel in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood through Jamal Khashoggi Way and 25th Street NW and 27th Street and Virginia Avenue NW.

Residents can access the Watergate Hotel on foot by 27th Street and Virginia Avenue NW, 25th Street and Jamal Khashoggi Way NW and 25th Street and F Street NW.

Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

© 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.