Arlington National Cemetery highlights progress on Southern Expansion Project

ARLINGTON, Va. - Arlington National Cemetery officials have released new photos showing ongoing work on the $400 million Southern Expansion Project, a decades-in-the-making effort designed to ensure the hallowed grounds can continue its mission for years to come. 

The images show what the 50-acre addition near Columbia Pike will look like, including new pedestrian and bike pathways, a cemetery boundary wall, new roads and tunnels and a new operations complex.

The U.S. Air Force Memorial will also be incorporated directly into the expansion, which utilizes the last contiguous space adjacent to the cemetery, according to officials. 

What they're saying:

Officials say the expansion will add 50 acres to the cemetery’s current 639 acres (up from its original 200 acres) and create more than 80,000 additional interment opportunities, including above‑ground columbarium courts for cremated remains and below‑ground cremated and traditional casketed burial spaces

Executive Director Karen Durham-Aguilera noted that once the current operations center is replaced and demolished, it will clear even more room for burials.

Without the project, officials warned that the cemetery was at risk of running out of burial space by 2041.

What's next:

Officials say Phase III of the expansion is expected to be completed in summer 2029.

Arlington CountyNews