News

Advance Notice of Planned Maintenance and Temporary Closure of Kirkwood Bridge along the Northwest Branch Trail

February 23, 2026

RIVERDALE, Md. — MNCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County, is planning maintenance work on the Kirkwood bridge along the Northwest Branch Trail. Recent evaluations indicate the bridge is aging and requires attention to support continued safe public use.

Currently, the bridge remains open, no construction activity is underway, and no access restrictions or detours are in place.

This advisory is intended to provide early notice to trail users and nearby residents. Additional information, including schedule and potential impacts, will be shared in advance of any construction activity.

Potential Impacts:

• The bridge will be closed to all users during construction
• The Northwest Branch Trail will be interrupted at the river crossing
• Detours will be posted for pedestrians and cyclists
• Increased congestion may occur on nearby trail segments and access points

Scope of Work:

• Repairs and improvements to aging bridge components
• Construction activities requiring restricted public access
• Equipment staging within the trail corridor

Public Guidance:

Trail users are encouraged to plan alternate routes and follow posted signage. MNCPPC will provide updates as work progresses and when the bridge is ready to reopen.

Stay updated by visiting pgparks.com and signing up for PGParks Alerts to receive notifications on your mobile device.

About the Department

With over 29,000 acres of parkland, trails, athletic fields, playgrounds, and more, the M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation in Prince George’s County provides an award-winning park system through progressive, quality, innovative leadership and a commitment to its community and environment. The Department delivers first-class recreational activities and programs for people of all ages and ability levels. It strives to improve the quality of life for Prince George’s County residents and the communities in which they live, work, and raise families. The Department’s Formula 2040 Plan establishes a framework that will ensure the Department can meet future parks and recreation programmatic and facility needs, fulfilling its mission to determine the combination of land, facilities, and programs that will provide appropriate experiences for Prince Georgians in the future. To learn more, visit www.pgparks.com.