News Release

Smoother rides ahead on Mount Vernon Trail

State Senator Scott Surovell, Supervisor Dan Storck, Superintendent Charles Cuvelier, Judd Isbell (President of the Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail) and volunteers from the Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

News Release Date: September 24, 2022

Contact: Claire Shields, 202-768-2945

WASHINGTON – The National Park Service (NPS) and the Friends of Mount Vernon Trail hosted a ceremony today to officially reopen the reconstructed Bridge 12, along the southern section of the Mount Vernon Trail. In celebration of Public Lands Day, the ribbon cutting ceremony marked the project’s completion.

The reconstruction of the bridge, located approximately 400 yards north of Fort Hunt Park, was completed by the National Park Service (NPS) in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration and Virginia Department of Transportation.

"I'm thrilled this year to celebrate National Public Lands Day with our Friends of Mount Vernon Trail. They embody this year's theme of giving back together, with volunteer workdays that help maintain and improve the trail for all users," Charles Cuvelier, Superintendent of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, said. “The Mount Vernon Trail is a very popular recreational resource and these bridge improvements will greatly increase safety for thousands of trail users.”

To improve safety, the new bridge was relocated, allowing for a straighter alignment and reduced grade leading to and from the bridge. It also features a 14-foot width and upgraded railings. The trail surface leading to the bridge was also replaced from Waynewood Boulevard to Fort Hunt Road.

The NPS started this bridge replacement project in February 2022. This is the first of four planned major bridge improvement projects on the Mount Vernon Trail that the NPS plans to complete over the next five years.

The Mount Vernon Trail (MVT) is an 18-mile paved, multi-use path that stretches from George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate to Theodore Roosevelt Island. The National Park Service cares for the trail with help from partners including the Friends of Mount Vernon Trail and its volunteers. The trail is a hub for recreation and connects with regional trails, including the Potomac Heritage, Rock Creek, Custis, Four Mile Run and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Trails.

National Public Lands Day is held annually on the fourth Saturday in September and is traditionally the nation's largest single-day volunteer effort. It celebrates the connection between people and green space in their community, inspires environmental stewardship, and encourages use of open space for education, recreation, and health benefits. This year, National Public Lands Day falls on Sept. 24, 2022.