Anacostia River trail to Kenilworth Trail Bridge

[Raymo853]

Wow, the completed all the pavement Friday.

[Raymo853]

However, there were still barriers up pass the garbage incinerator plant. This photo is from under Benning Road.

[TTPaws]

@Raymo853 146027 wrote:

However, there were still barriers up pass the garbage incinerator plant. This photo is from under Benning Road.

On Thursday afternoon someone moved the one barrier sign. I have no idea who… the last two evenings the contractors have been planting trees and bushes along the way just South of New York Ave., but had their trucks pulled to the side so I didn’t have any problems. Thursday there was a fence across the trail just North of New York Ave. Today it was open and although the road was pretty rough, i was able to proceed all the way to riverdale park (it was just time to turn around).

I am really going to love this run when it is all done.

[Rod Smith]

We got turned around Saturday morning by a worker (actually we ignored and rode right by him but shortly after encountered a heavily barricaded entrance to the boardwalk that goes under Rte 50) then it dawned on us he had been signaling us to turn around (pointy hand over head in rotating motion). He said they were doing some work on that section but we could go through after 11am. Conclusions; 1) they are working weekends to get it finished soon. 2) They are OK with people riding there when it won’t conflict with ongoing construction.

[TTPaws]

This afternoon I headed up this way again, where the trail gets rough about 4.5 miles from Benning Ave, they put the water filled jersey barriers across the trail. I guess you could lift your bike over the barriers, I guess.

[Rod Smith]

@TTPaws 146422 wrote:

This afternoon I headed up this way again, where the trail gets rough about 4.5 miles from Benning Ave, they put the water filled jersey barriers across the trail. I guess you could lift your bike over the barriers, I guess.

There’s usually a little gap on the edge of those barriers that you can ride through.

[Greenbelt]

The bridge is now complete, and the paving and grading on the approaches to the bridge and the Benning Road underpass is finished.
https://www.strava.com/activities/725023178

[IMG]https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/q82/s480x480/14390657_1123290107737705_2034151017011634728_n.jpg?oh=459345fb23d88ca7419341beff4a82bc&oe=58825048[/IMG]

[KLizotte]

I rode the ART from DC to a little over the MD border. It’s fantastic! They are still working on the trail and some places could use a good sweeping but overall it’s a blast to ride. I’m a bit puzzled at some of the wavy sections when it looks like they could have just gone straight but I’m not a civil engineer (good fun on a trike though). Also the boardwalks don’t have wooden planks! Yay! Can’t wait until it is complete. I presume it will connect to the extensive trail network on the MD side.

[Rootchopper]

I think the wavy sections are a traffic calming idea. There are some islands on the approaches to a bridge that require riders to slow down. (I rode it today too.) It’s nearly done. They could have made it better but I don’t see how. It’s a gem.

[KLizotte]

@Rootchopper 146458 wrote:

I think the wavy sections are a traffic calming idea. There are some islands on the approaches to a bridge that require riders to slow down. (I rode it today too.) It’s nearly done. They could have made it better but I don’t see how. It’s a gem.

Yeah, the islands to the bridge seem a bit over the top but they do slow cyclists way down. I don’t recall if that little bridge had wooden planks or not.

I’m thrilled I’ll be able to get to MD without having to cut through downtown DC.

[mstone]

It’s interesting that local DOT’s are mostly against bulb outs on roads (because safety guidelines) but don’t see them as a problem on bike/ped routes.

[bobco85]

Does anyone have pics of the wavy sections that have islands?

I figure the wavy sections help highlight that it is a recreational trail for people to meander through and enjoy at their own pace as opposed to the other extreme which would be building only straight bridges for the shortest distance so people can go as far and fast as possible.

[ursus]

@KLizotte 146454 wrote:

I rode the ART from DC to a little over the MD border. It’s fantastic! They are still working on the trail and some places could use a good sweeping but overall it’s a blast to ride. I’m a bit puzzled at some of the wavy sections when it looks like they could have just gone straight but I’m not a civil engineer (good fun on a trike though). Also the boardwalks don’t have wooden planks! Yay! Can’t wait until it is complete. I presume it will connect to the extensive trail network on the MD side.

You aren’t referring to the “wavy section” of the second picture in post #6 of this thread, are you? I thought that was a problem with the picture.

[KLizotte]

@ursus 146468 wrote:

You aren’t referring to the “wavy section” of the second picture in post #6 of this thread, are you? I thought that was a problem with the picture.

Ha! No that is just your typical blip in the space time continuum.

[KLizotte]

@bobco85 146464 wrote:

Does anyone have pics of the wavy sections that have islands?

I figure the wavy sections help highlight that it is a recreational trail for people to meander through and enjoy at their own pace as opposed to the other extreme which would be building only straight bridges for the shortest distance so people can go as far and fast as possible.

The wavy sections don’t have islands. I’m thinking specifically of a section through the woods that is wavy like a snake when it looks like it could have been straight. Like Greenbelt said, I think it is a traffic calming measure. I suspect that was a good idea.

I think the traffic island to the little bridge was installed because one has to make a turn before hitting the bridge and the area is fairly small. It forces everyone to slow way down and stay in their lane. No wavy areas in this section.

I should have taken pics but I left late in the day and was concerned about getting home before it got too dark. Too bad the trail is opening up so late in the year; soon there will be snow and ice and I rather doubt it will be plowed.

I didn’t get a chance to check out the Kennilworth Gardens spur. Hopefully next weekend.

[Author]

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