WASHINGTON — The grace period ends for heavy vehicles crossing the Arlington Memorial Bridge. As the bridge becomes weaker with each truck and bus ignoring the weight limit, the U.S. Park Police will start ticketing drivers next week.

[related_gallery align=”right”]In May 2015, Federal Highway Administration engineers told drivers hauling more than 10 tons that they had to find a route that did not include the Arlington Memorial Bridge.

“They’re further impacting and breaking up the deck. And the deck is what is in the most critical need of repair on the bridge. That’s the surface you drive across,” said Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles with the National Park Service.

It should be 11 inches solid core of concrete with a couple inches of asphalt on top, Anzelmo-Sarles said, but the latest core samples have found it has just turned to gravel.

“If we continue to see these heavy vehicles, we’ll continue to see the deck deteriorate … We may face looking at implementing additional restrictions or closures before a repair project can be completed,” she said.

The park service is still acquiring the funds needed to make significant repairs needed on the bridge.