Columbia Pike and W&OD

[Starduster]

Drove by this evening, and there *is* major repaving work at this intersection. Not sure how W&OD traffic is being detoured…

[consularrider]

It would have been easier to deal with at 5:45 in the dark if there had been any notice further back on the trail (heading west or east), but there was nothing until you actually got to the intersection. Also, no one was directing non-motorized traffic. The cyclist ahead of me dismounted and went about 50 feet to the right up Columbia Pike and walked between backed up cars. I took the sidewalk to the right over to the Buchanan St light and rode up the hill, then back down to the W&OD at 9th St.

This morning I did my usual and skipped that section by riding the 4MRT and may do so again this evening. Just remember it is even darker down by the run.

[jrenaut]

The only solution to that intersection is to nuke it from orbit. I’d never been through there at rush hour until the Bike Arlington light event, and it’s appalling. I guess that’s the tradeoff – as you get further from Downtown, you get beautiful off-street trails, but when you do have to interact with the roads, it’s a cluster. Downtown we have less infrastructure, but it’s less “good-good-good-good-WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE”.

[sjclaeys]

@consularrider 69116 wrote:

It would have been easier to deal with at 5:45 in the dark if there had been any notice further back on the trail (heading west or east), but there was nothing until you actually got to the intersection. Also, no one was directing non-motorized traffic. The cyclist ahead of me dismounted and went about 50 feet to the right up Columbia Pike and walked between backed up cars. I took the sidewalk to the right over to the Buchanan St light and rode up the hill, then back down to the W&OD at 9th St.

This morning I did my usual and skipped that section by riding the 4MRT and may do so again this evening. Just remember it is even darker down by the run.

This is a great example of how Arlington does well in establishing physical infrastructure for bicycles (bike lanes, bike boxes, etc.), but it often fails in implementing what I call institutional infrastructure. It should be no surprise that the work at the W&OD and Columbia Pike intersection would greatly impact those using the W&OD, yet this apparently was not realized by Arlington County. I noticed this morning that someone at least spray painted “Slow” on the W&OD eastbound, which gave me a little warning before hitting the torn up section in the dark.

[Kolohe]

@jrenaut 69117 wrote:

The only solution to that intersection is to nuke it from orbit. I’d never been through there at rush hour until the Bike Arlington light event, and it’s appalling. I guess that’s the tradeoff – as you get further from Downtown, you get beautiful off-street trails, but when you do have to interact with the roads, it’s a cluster. Downtown we have less infrastructure, but it’s less “good-good-good-good-WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE”.

I will say, though, that despite the crossing and 50 yds on either side being a hot mess right now, I anticipate a greatly improved endstate with where they appear to be going in terms of alignment and path merges.

[KLizotte]

@Kolohe 69138 wrote:

I will say, though, that despite the crossing and 50 yds on either side being a hot mess right now, I anticipate a greatly improved endstate with where they appear to be going in terms of alignment and path merges.

If they open up the curb cuts on the WO&D side the pain will be worth it IMHO. Fingers crossed….

[consularrider]

@KLizotte 69140 wrote:

If they open up the curb cuts on the WO&D side the pain will be worth it IMHO. Fingers crossed….

The new curb cut for the realigned path on the west side of Columbia Pike looks twice as wide as what it is replacing. However, I expect that means the second cut further south will disappear. There really needs to be curb cuts to cross Columbia Pike there for the south side of 4 Mile Run Dr and by the bus stop.

[bobco85]

For all interested, I found an image for the concept plan for the construction on this page (I had to zoom in using my web browser to better see the Columbia Pike/W&OD intersection even after clicking on the image): http://www.columbiapikeva.us/multimodal-street-improvements/utility-undergrounding-streetscape-improvements/

3 things I noticed about this concept plan:
1) There will now be 5 lanes of traffic to cross Columbia Pike due to the addition of a left turn lane for westbound Columbia Pike traffic
2) On the north side of the intersection, there are no longer 2 ramps to cross the east side of the intersection
3) The pole with the crosswalk signal and button for crossing south will be moved next to the new crosswalk

I noticed at the Lights for Bikes last week that the pole had already been moved, but it did not seem to be in the location as previewed by the concept plan. Perhaps that will change. Overall, I like that there will only be 1 ramp because having 2 was confusing for people heading north across that intersection.

[sjclaeys]

“3) The pole with the crosswalk signal and button for crossing south will be moved next to the new crosswalk”

Maybe I am reading the plan wrong, but it looks like the crosswalk signal pole will still be on the left hand side of the path, rather on the right side where it would be more accessible. Thus, cyclists will still be required to either do an awkward turn around or ride on the left hand side of the path (against other path traffic) to get to the signal pole. Another example of the lack of institutional infrastructure in Arlington.

[holdthebeach]

Be careful riding east on Columbia Pike a bit west of this intersection. There are 2 inch strips cut out of the concrete edges of the furthest right lane.

[bobco85]

@sjclaeys 69167 wrote:

Maybe I am reading the plan wrong, but it looks like the crosswalk signal pole will still be on the left hand side of the path, rather on the right side where it would be more accessible. Thus, cyclists will still be required to either do an awkward turn around or ride on the left hand side of the path (against other path traffic) to get to the signal pole. Another example of the lack of institutional infrastructure in Arlington.

I think you’re reading it correctly, but I don’t know if there’d be a better way. If they put the pole (or placed a new pole) on the righthand side of the crosswalk, it would become a de facto bollard even if it were not at the crosswalk ramp since not everyone uses crosswalk ramps (especially if things get crowded).

As things appear to be, the only disadvantage would be for trail-users coming off of Columbia Pike and onto the W&OD.

Other than that, I don’t see any major issues. At a red light, no oncoming path traffic would be expected because no one would normally be (legally or safely) crossing Columbia Pike at that point. And at a green light, the cyclist would not even need to go against traffic to push the button. (Of course, as I write this, I realize that there are people who cross Columbia Pike on a red light which would make everything dangerous, not being a PAL)

[consularrider]

It was still a mess this evening with heavy equipment working on the Pike blocking the trail crosswalk. The approach to Columbia Pike from the west is now crushed gravel for the last 20 or so yards.

[consularrider]

Has anyone ridden through this intersection this afternoon (Friday)? This morning it was clear they still need to lay down another layer of asphalt on Columbia Pike.

[JustinW]

It is slowly improving, tho still a bit of a surprise if you are not paying attention. The realigned portion west of Columbia Pike has a good gravel / stone base, now they need to asphalt it.

[consularrider]

After this weekend’s rain, the gravel section just where the paved section ends is very soft. Skinny tires can sink a little, be careful.

[Author]

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