American Legion Memorial Bridge (Potomac River)

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The American Legion Memorial Bridge, also known as the American Legion Bridge and the Cabin John Bridge, is a bridge in Montgomery County, Maryland, U.S.A.. It carries the Capital Beltway across the Potomac River between Montgomery County and Fairfax County, Virginia. It is an American Water Landmark.

The American Legion Memorial Bridge has five traffic lanes in each direction. However, the outermost lane in each direction is an exit-only lane. The outermost northbound lane is exit-only onto the Clara Barton Parkway, while the outermost lane in the southern direction is exit-only onto the George Washington Memorial Parkway and Georgetown Pike (State Route 193). The bridge does not allow for pedestrians or cyclists.

The American Legion Memorial Bridge is an important commuter route because of its proximity to edge cities and high tech centers in Maryland and Virginia.

In 1989 the Cabin John Bridge was renamed "The American Legion Memorial Bridge" to alleviate confusion with the bridge carrying McArthur Boulevard across Cabin John Creek, also known as "The Cabin John Bridge." For many years, Washington, D.C., area traffic reporters on the radio continued referred to the bridge as "The Cabin John Bridge". However, the American Legion requested that the reporters call the bridge by its current name. The reporters complied with that request.

The American Legion Bridge is one of the two locations at which the Capital Beltway crosses the Potomac; the other is the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.

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Bridges of the Potomac River
Upstream
Point of Rocks Bridge
American Legion Memorial Bridge
Downstream
Chain Bridge