Enjoy the Custis Trail at Ft Myer Drive Today: Construction Alert

This topic has 17 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 4 months ago by DismalScientist.

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December 19, 2012 at 12:51 pm #957953

Dirt
Participant

It looks kinda cute from further back too.

December 19, 2012 at 1:19 pm #957955

GuyContinental
Participant

What no kicker right before the cones? I bet that Pete could clear that…

December 19, 2012 at 1:49 pm #957958

sjclaeys
Participant

Did Arlington County put out an alert about this that I missed? If not, 20 demerits for not announcing it and 50 demerits for not setting up a safe detour for bicycles.

December 19, 2012 at 1:57 pm #957960

KayakCyndi
Participant

I came through much later (thankfully no 5am rides for me). At 8:30ish the area was a zoo. Cyclists and pedestrians in the street with cars just about turning on top of them. Thankfully, traffic seems to be a bit on the light side …

December 19, 2012 at 2:05 pm #957962

Dirt
Participant

@GuyContinental 38461 wrote:

What no kicker right before the cones? I bet that Pete could clear that…

All I need is a lot more momentum. I’d clear it for sure. Bike probably wouldn’t, but I would.

December 19, 2012 at 2:15 pm #957964

Tim Kelley
Participant

@sjclaeys 38464 wrote:

Did Arlington County put out an alert about this that I missed? If not, 20 demerits for not announcing it and 50 demerits for not setting up a safe detour for bicycles.

I don’t think it’s a county transportation project. Maybe something with VDOT or utilities perhaps? We’re looking into it…

December 19, 2012 at 2:22 pm #957965

bobco85
Participant

Why don’t they just close down the right lane of WB Lee and use that for the Custis Trail detour between the Marriott driveway and Ft Myer? They’d probably even save some of those cones (it’s like a fence around the “pit”)!

December 19, 2012 at 2:58 pm #957978

Dirt
Participant

@bobco85 38471 wrote:

Why don’t they just close down the right lane of WB Lee and use that for the Custis Trail detour between the Marriott driveway and Ft Myer? They’d probably even save some of those cones (it’s like a fence around the “pit”)!

I’ve been lobbying for closing all of Arlington County to automobile traffic any time road construction needs to be done in the county. There hasn’t been much support for that yet. I’m still working on it though.

December 19, 2012 at 2:58 pm #957979

rcannon100
Participant

This is the same concern as the snow removal – that ARLCO fails to treat the bike trails as transportation arteries. Shutting down the trails without notice, without a safe and legal detour – is a regular occurrence. This is a continuation of Arlco saying “Stop driving your car to work — but we only support those people who drive their cars to work.”

Anyway – I encourage you to send emails to DES@arlingtonva.us, countyboard@arlingtonva.us Please do. They need to hear from you about how this impacts your commute and your safety.

Dirt, is it okay if I repost your picture to my blog?

December 19, 2012 at 3:07 pm #957980

consularrider
Participant

@Tim Kelley 38470 wrote:

I don’t think it’s a county transportation project. Maybe something with VDOT or utilities perhaps? We’re looking into it…

I saw this at about 8 am. Lots of people (walkers/runners/cyclists) were salmons “taking the lane.” My bet is that VDOT is redoing the curb cuts since they’ve already done all the other ones in the area and no warning was given for those either. That’s actually a good thing since the “trail” curb cut for NW corner of Lee/N Ft Myer cannot accomodate two trail users at the same time and I don’t remember a curb cut for those going south on N Ft Myer.

Since I was heading west to turn left on N Ft Myer Dr, it was easy for me to avoid this mess. However, if you were heading east, at the Marriott driveway there was no where to cross at that point. There should have been a sidewalk closed please use other side sign and cones back at the N Oak St signal and the back Marriott entry, but I wasn’t going that far to see. I like bobco85’s idea of shutting down the righthand lane on Lee Highway and using that for trail users. There is rarely three lanes worth of westbound motor vehicle traffic there.

December 19, 2012 at 5:02 pm #958000

GuyContinental
Participant

@Dirt 38468 wrote:

All I need is a lot more momentum. I’d clear it for sure. Bike probably wouldn’t, but I would.

Flap your arms, hold on to the bike with your thighs… you’ll be finnnne….

6pm, I’ll have the Go Pro…

December 19, 2012 at 5:16 pm #958002

jnva
Participant

@Dirt 38457 wrote:

Sorry. I should have got this out last night when I first saw it.

There’s no good ride around and people like to do illegal right turns on red from Ft. Myer Dr. Be very careful. I almost had a head-on collision this morning with a guy who didn’t even pretend to stop at his red light… or pay attention to the orange cones.

Hugs and kisses,

Pete

Thanks for the report – I took this as an opportunity to go my alternate route through Rosslyn on lee hwy. down that hill at 40mph is fun every once in a while! Only do that on clear days, but its fun!

December 19, 2012 at 5:40 pm #958004

consularrider
Participant

@jnva 38508 wrote:

Thanks for the report – I took this as an opportunity to go my alternate route through Rosslyn on lee hwy. down that hill at 40mph is fun every once in a while! Only do that on clear days, but its fun!

One of my favorites early on a Saturday or Sunday morning when it seems I am the only one from Veitch to Rhodes! Three lanes all to myself!

December 19, 2012 at 5:50 pm #958005

Dirt
Participant

@GuyContinental 38506 wrote:

Flap your arms, hold on to the bike with your thighs… you’ll be finnnne…..

“To infinity and BEYOND!!!!!”

December 19, 2012 at 7:49 pm #958018

Dirt
Participant

Arlington County is doing the work and they are making the ramping at each of the corners compliant with accessibility code.

There is a detour set up now. I’ll post photos later on today. Basically you cross Lee Hwy and use the sidewalk on the other side of the street for a block. The construction guys were nice. They haven’t started pouring the concrete yet. Still more prep work to be done.
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