Crossing the Gallows Road Bridge over I-495

[n18]

@bobco85 43820 wrote:

I took advantage of the great weather on Tuesday and made my way down to check out the Gallows Road bridge over I-495. I must say, this bridge is a LOT better than the Little River Turnpike bridge! Not perfect, but a lot better.

Here’s a map of the possible paths and where you can access the northern and southern paths (note: on the eastern side both paths are accessible for the most part via sidewalks):
[ATTACH=CONFIG]2422[/ATTACH]

Going across the northern path, there are 3 crossings. The central and eastern ones have stoplights with pedestrian signals while the western one has only a crosswalk. Note: I crossed the northern path going east-to-west, and crossed the southern path going west-to-east.

Before the first (eastern) crossing, the sidewalk temporarily ends (top image) and you must navigate a short (20 feet) dirt and small gravel (skinny tires beware) path. The other two images are from the eastern side (right image) and western side (bottom image). You may have a pedestrian signal, but beware of aggressive drivers trying to make left turns from eastbound Gallows towards north I-495.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]2423[/ATTACH]

The central crossing is basically at a T-intersection, and you get a pedestrian signal. Nothing special.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]2424[/ATTACH]

The western crossing is the worst of the three as it has neither a pedestrian signal nor anywhere to go after you cross. Seriously, the path just ends, and you are forced to join Gallows traffic.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]2425[/ATTACH]

After getting to the Gallows/Woodburn light, the only way to get to the southern side is to cross the intersection, get into the right lane of Woodburn, and wait for the light to be able to cross Gallows.

The southern path is actually a lot better than the northern path. There are only 2 crossings, and even though the western one is a bit dangerous, the eastern one has a pedestrian signal with stoplight. It is accessible from the west by using Luttrell Road.

The western crossing (top two images) is made more dangerous due to the bad sight lines for those going eastward. The eastern crossing (bottom left image) has a pedestrian signal and the stoplight helps to slow down traffic. Once across, the path turns into a sidewalk on Gallows (bottom right image).
[ATTACH=CONFIG]2426[/ATTACH]

All in all, I’d have to say that crossing the Gallows Road bridge is pretty feasible. The biggest problems with it are trying to cross Gallows Road is difficult and the abrupt end of the northern path when going westward. Other than that, I would recommend taking the southern path as it is easy to connect to from Woodburn Road and it only has one flaw (western crossing). I think the Gallows Road bridge would serve as a viable alternative for anyone in the area who does not want to travel north to cross using Lee Highway (using Route 50 to cross I-495 on a bicycle? I’ve done that once years ago on a mtb, and will never do it again!) and does not want to travel south past Little River Turnpike (not a great bridge) to use the pedestrian bridge near Wakefield Park.

P.S. – to get to the bridge from Ballston, I used (generalized route) Custis to W&OD to Cherry St to Arlington Blvd service road to Luria Park to Holmes Run Dr.

It seems that Gallows Road bridge over I-495 has been improved a bit since you took your pictures. They added a sidewalk to the west of the bridge on the north side to take you safely past Woodburn intersection. So this picture:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2425[/ATTACH]

Has become this(The intersection on the left is Woodburn intersection):

[ATTACH=CONFIG]6393[/ATTACH]

The sidewalk ends at this spot. However, you could keep going over a grassy area that is free of thorn trees for one block and stay on the east side of Gallows Road. See this picture which is at the end of the sidewalk looking north on Gallows Road:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]6394[/ATTACH]

I have gone back and forth over the grassy area and the north side of the bridge several times, and it’s passable without having to dismount. Unfortunately, the east side still has the 20 feet of dirt and gravel. I am using these 700x25mm puncture resistant tires if that matters.

I did go north all the way to W&OD intersection. The sidewalk after the grassy area turns into a broken black pavement, and at RT50 intersection, there are crumbling curb cuts, then a sidewalk to Gatehouse RD. Both east and west side sidewalks have been redone and made wider between Gatehouse RD and one block before Dunn Loring metro. The west side is mostly black pavement, while the east side is just a wide sidewalk.

[bobco85]

@n18 92205 wrote:

It seems that Gallows Road bridge over I-495 has been improved a bit since you took your pictures. They added a sidewalk to the west of the bridge on the north side to take you safely past Woodburn intersection. So this picture:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]2425[/ATTACH]

Has become this(The intersection on the left is Woodburn intersection):

[ATTACH=CONFIG]6393[/ATTACH]

The sidewalk ends at this spot. However, you could keep going over a grassy area that is free of thorn trees for one block and stay on the east side of Gallows Road. See this picture which is at the end of the sidewalk looking north on Gallows Road:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]6394[/ATTACH]

I have gone back and forth over the grassy area and the north side of the bridge several times, and it’s passable without having to dismount. Unfortunately, the east side still has the 20 feet of dirt and gravel. I am using these 700x25mm puncture resistant tires if that matters.

I did go north all the way to W&OD intersection. The sidewalk after the grassy area turns into a broken black pavement, and at RT50 intersection, there are crumbling curb cuts, then a sidewalk to Gatehouse RD. Both east and west side sidewalks have been redone and made wider between Gatehouse RD and one block before Dunn Loring metro. The west side is mostly black pavement, while the east side is just a wide sidewalk.

Thanks for the update! I’m glad they were able to extend the sidewalk on the east side of Gallows which according to your photos now ends at a spot where people can use a crosswalk (with light) to get to the other side of Gallows at the hospital.

That said, whenever passing through there I will continue to use the road (I’m more of a vehicular cyclist), but I am happy that people have more options when trying to get travel along Gallows through there.

[Author]

Posts