August 2014 Trail Conditions

Sigh, Holmes Run Trail is still not open yet at Columbia Pike. It is clear up to the Parklawn pool, but the same “trail closed” signs follow.

Also, there is a significant accumulation of sand at the south end of the tunnel heading under I-395 that is hard to see especially if you’re headed south. I’m talking a “let’s build a sandcastle” amount of sand here!

Anyone know how the ART is fairing after Tuesday’s rain? Flooding recede in the usually trouble spots (CSX bridge underpass, etc)?

4 Mile Run Trail is closed by the Dominion Power substation. The closure is expected to last all day. You need to take Glebe Road to detour around the closure. They also had the trail
blocked past the waste treatment plant, but I was told it was actually clear that way

Yesterday my wife and I decided to head out to Fairfax city center from our home in Alexandria. We followed the google bicycling directions: W&OD to Vienna then down along Nutley over I-66 then picked up the CC trail to Lee Highway. Over all it was fine but the section of Nutley over I-66 was deeply unpleasant and felt unsafe. Heavy gravel and big level changes (almost stair steps) on the sidewalk, high speed traffic on the road. This was marked as a bike path but it sure didn’t feel like it. We were on the west side of Nutley (heading south, going with traffic). I’m wondering, is it better on the east side? Or should we have gone into the metro station and walked our (tandem) across the pedestrian overpass?

(For the ride home, we did a quick search on the forums and found a recommendation to cross I-66 on Cedar Lane. That worked much better since there’s no freeway interchange there.)

Thanks,
John

@reji 93227 wrote:

I commute through that area daily and here’s an alternate route for you. http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/514193442

The route isn’t perfect, but it’s a heck of a lot better than the Nutley/I66 mess. Minimal sidewalk riding with just a small stretch on Pickett Road. And all of this is tandem-friendly except for mile 3.5 where you have a big dip to navigate when you turn left out of the parking lot to get to Pickett. If you’re taking a tandem, you may want to explore the GCCCT on the east side of the building to go around it.

Thanks, that’s much better!

@Overtone 93222 wrote:

Yesterday my wife and I decided to head out to Fairfax city center from our home in Alexandria. We followed the google bicycling directions: W&OD to Vienna then down along Nutley over I-66 then picked up the CC trail to Lee Highway. Over all it was fine but the section of Nutley over I-66 was deeply unpleasant and felt unsafe. Heavy gravel and big level changes (almost stair steps) on the sidewalk, high speed traffic on the road. This was marked as a bike path but it sure didn’t feel like it. We were on the west side of Nutley (heading south, going with traffic). I’m wondering, is it better on the east side? Or should we have gone into the metro station and walked our (tandem) across the pedestrian overpass?

(For the ride home, we did a quick search on the forums and found a recommendation to cross I-66 on Cedar Lane. That worked much better since there’s no freeway interchange there.)

Thanks,
John

The east side of Nutley over I-66 has less gravel, and in better shape than the west side.

Last year I went once from Fair City Mall to Annandale using only Little River Turnpike/RT236. There was no sidewalk east of Woodburn Rd till I-495 intersection, but the road has a wide shoulder that turns into a right turn lane sometimes(See this StreetView). The bridge over I-495 was very easy to cross as it has wide sidewalks and curb cuts. However, I am not sure if Annandale area is easy to cross with a Tandem.

From Annandale to Fairfax Circle is easier as there is a bike path, but it has gravel. That path feels flat all the way, and sort of heavily shaded.

@baiskeli 93279 wrote:

The joint in the bike/ped path on the Virginia side of the Roosevelt Bridge has gone from awful to treacherous. A hunk of metal is sticking up. Anyone know which agency to report this to? VDOT?

Once you cross the tiniest sliver of water, you’re in DC. This little gem is about 1/4 of the way over the bridge (leaving from VA), right where the bridge goes over Roosevelt Island. I’ve been told this is DDOT, though I’ve also told NPS for good measure. I reported this via the 311 map (or maybe a different one) months ago, and I did again today. If someone hits this wrong, they could be headed head-first into shallow water way down below. Hopefully, some others can help report this and express the importance of repairing this, especially before it gets dark earlier.

I also submitted a request to trim the vegetation, while I was at it. Here’s hoping!