DC Council roundtable Friday will focus on the collapsed pedestrian bridge over DC Route 295

A public roundtable is set for this Friday, July 9 on the pedestrian bridge that collapsed over DC Route 295 last month.

The hearing, hosted jointly by two DC Council committees, will focus on the District’s plans to replace the bridge, as well as how officials can prepare for and respond to such events in the future.

DCist reported last week that officials were still evaluating whether or not to rebuild the bridge, one of a handful of pedestrian bridges connecting the Kenilworth and Eastland Gardens neighborhoods with Deanwood over a six-lane highway.

According to DCist, District Department of Transportation Director Everett Lott said at a press conference that the collapsed bridge at Lane Place NE only had 11 daily users according to 2014 data — in contrast, a nearby pedestrian bridge had 1,100 users each day.

Residents of the area have pointed to the incident as just another example of disinvestment in neighborhoods east of the Anacostia. The three pedestrian bridges, one of which collapsed, serve as crucial links for residents of those neighborhoods, which are separated by the highway from the Deanwood Metro station and other services. About 40% of households in that census tract do not own a vehicle.

At the roundtable, councilmembers will ask District officials about their plans for rebuilding the pedestrian bridge, as well as interim plans to minimize the impact of its collapse on residents.

The public is invited to testify at the roundtable. If you want to testify, sign up at least 24 hours in advance by emailing or calling the staff member listed in the public notice. You can also submit written or voicemail testimony for the public record through July 25.