4 Mile Run Bridge and the Pike (rant)

This topic has 9 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 3 months ago by Tim Kelley.

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May 4, 2016 at 1:37 pm #918153

greenjug
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I just wanted to raise this as an issue that has been bothering me the last few years. This bridge has always been a bit of a mess. If you ride your bike across it in the street you have to deal with many inch wide seams in places that are jarring. The sidewalks are terrible too, often covered in glass. Pedestrians have raised this bridge a few times recently regarding how narrow the sidewalk is (especially on the north side), how the sidewalk floods/pools when it rains, and how it is completely unprotected from traffic on the Pike.

The county has told me that the state controls the bridge and there are no improvements planned. It is frustrating because on one hand the county is trying to promote walking and biking as much as possible, but the experience of using this bridge is a deterrent to both.
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May 4, 2016 at 1:42 pm #1051619

Tim Kelley
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Where exactly?

What does the state say when you talk to them?

May 4, 2016 at 2:06 pm #1051620

greenjug
Participant

@Tim Kelley 139142 wrote:

Where exactly?

What does the state say when you talk to them?

The 4 Mile Run Bridge on Columbia Pike. Near the intersection of W&OD and the Pike.

This is the response from the County after I asked if any bike/pedestrian improvements were planned for the bridge as a part of the Columbia Pike Utilities Undergrounding/Streetscape project:

“It is a big undertaking because there are a lot of considerations at that bridge. We are not undergrounding utilities across Four Mile because I was hoping that they could be incorporated into the revised bridge structure and not need to go under the stream. If you were going to do modifications to the bridge, you would want to be sure what loading needs to be accommodated. The extent of work may ultimately trigger Army Corp of Engineers permits for impacts to Four Mile Run, which I understand is its own challenge. Right now we have our hands full trying to implement the roadway improvements, transit stations, and improved bus service on this corridor. I think that the bridge improvements could be included in the Columbia Pike Complete Streets portfolio, but I’m hesitant to start adding scope until we get the street segments further along. I don’t want to try to accomplish everything, and end up accomplishing nothing. For immediate problems of ponding, maybe be we can just put in some new drains.”

So there are no near-term improvements planned. Pedestrians will continue to walk through pooled water and get splashed by passing cars. Cyclists will continue to have to try to jump the seams on the road.

May 4, 2016 at 2:08 pm #1051621

greenjug
Participant

Also from the County regarding the bridge (and who controls it)

“The County does control the Columbia Pike bridge over Four Mile Run. It was transferred along with control of the roadway. Modifications to the bridge were included in the streetcar program and were therefore specifically excluded from the Columbia Pike Multimodal program. To my knowledge there are no plans for it at this time. I can pass along this concern to our bridge program for review.”

May 4, 2016 at 2:10 pm #1051622

Tim Kelley
Participant

@greenjug 139143 wrote:

The 4 Mile Run Bridge on Columbia Pike. Near the intersection of W&OD and the Pike.

This is the response from the County after I asked if any bike/pedestrian improvements were planned for the bridge as a part of the Columbia Pike Utilities Undergrounding/Streetscape project:

“It is a big undertaking because there are a lot of considerations at that bridge. We are not undergrounding utilities across Four Mile because I was hoping that they could be incorporated into the revised bridge structure and not need to go under the stream. If you were going to do modifications to the bridge, you would want to be sure what loading needs to be accommodated. The extent of work may ultimately trigger Army Corp of Engineers permits for impacts to Four Mile Run, which I understand is its own challenge. Right now we have our hands full trying to implement the roadway improvements, transit stations, and improved bus service on this corridor. I think that the bridge improvements could be included in the Columbia Pike Complete Streets portfolio, but I’m hesitant to start adding scope until we get the street segments further along. I don’t want to try to accomplish everything, and end up accomplishing nothing. For immediate problems of ponding, maybe be we can just put in some new drains.”

So there are no near-term improvements planned. Pedestrians will continue to walk through pooled water and get splashed by passing cars. Cyclists will continue to have to try to jump the seams on the road.

So the actual sidewalk along the roadway, not one of the bridges along Four Mile Run Trail underneath the roadway.

May 4, 2016 at 2:27 pm #1051623

chris_s
Participant

@greenjug 139141 wrote:

I just wanted to raise this as an issue that has been bothering me the last few years. This bridge has always been a bit of a mess. If you ride your bike across it in the street you have to deal with many inch wide seams in places that are jarring. The sidewalks are terrible too, often covered in glass. Pedestrians have raised this bridge a few times recently regarding how narrow the sidewalk is (especially on the north side), how the sidewalk floods/pools when it rains, and how it is completely unprotected from traffic on the Pike.

The county has told me that the state controls the bridge and there are no improvements planned. It is frustrating because on one hand the county is trying to promote walking and biking as much as possible, but the experience of using this bridge is a deterrent to both.

Glad I’m not the only one thinking about this, I’m in the middle of a Greater Greater Washington about the current plan for biking on Columbia Pike and this bridge is “gaping hole in the planning” numero uno.

May 4, 2016 at 2:31 pm #1051624

greenjug
Participant

@Tim Kelley 139145 wrote:

So the actual sidewalk along the roadway, not one of the bridges along Four Mile Run Trail underneath the roadway.

exactly. In fact you can see the large seam where the truck is (https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8562548,-77.1105919,3a,75y,89.08h,73.03t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1ssIrkMLAjXdPjWbM-4vasdw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656).

I suppose I just have to suck it up and deal with it, but its a daily annoyance and I wish we had a friendlier option. pushing a stroller across the bridge is nerve-racking!

May 4, 2016 at 2:32 pm #1051625

Tim Kelley
Participant

At least in the short term, you can report the seam/pothole to VDOT: https://my.vdot.virginia.gov/

May 4, 2016 at 2:34 pm #1051626

chris_s
Participant

@Tim Kelley 139148 wrote:

At least in the short term, you can report the seam/pothole to VDOT: https://my.vdot.virginia.gov/

Pay attention Tim, it’s the County’s bridge now. Arlington report-a-problem: http://topics.arlingtonva.us/reportproblem/

May 4, 2016 at 2:36 pm #1051627

Tim Kelley
Participant

@chris_s 139149 wrote:

Pay attention Tim, it’s the County’s bridge now. Arlington report-a-problem: http://topics.arlingtonva.us/reportproblem/

Yes, this!!
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