WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $2.8 million to study the long-term replacement of the Long Bridge over the Potomac River.

The 100-year-old bridge is the only direct rail connection between D.C. and Virginia. Two two-track bridge is used by CSX, Amtrak and the Virginia Railway Express.

The $2.8 million Department of Transportation grant, announced last week, will pay for a study by the National Environmental Policy Act.

A Department of Transportation reports says the bridge handles 56 passenger and 23 freight trains daily and is at 98 percent capacity during peak hours.

The Washington Post reports (http://wapo.st/1mhUeIo ) that the funding for the new study was announced last week as part of $600 million in grants for 72 transportation agencies across the U.S.

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Information from: The Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com

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