Crossing the Little River Turnpike Bridge over I-495

[ShawnoftheDread]

The problem with crossing against the traffic is the need on each side to use the roadway once across the bridge. I think there’s a special level of Hell reserved for traffic engineers who create abruptly ending sidewalks along major roadways.

[bobco85]

@ShawnoftheDread 43572 wrote:

The problem with crossing against the traffic is the need on each side to use the roadway once across the bridge. I think there’s a special level of Hell reserved for traffic engineers who create abruptly ending sidewalks along major roadways.

You’re right. My bad on that. My advice would work if the eastern ends get finished, but currently it is not really feasible. On the north side where the paved path ends you could continue on the dirt/hay and not have to use the roadway, but on the south side there is only a very narrow space to travel between the side of a hill and the road.

I think that the people who designed and chose those so-tiny-they’re-impossible-to-read “Yield to Pedestrians” signs should join the aforementioned traffic engineers in that level of Hell

[lordofthemark]

@bobco85 43579 wrote:

You’re right. My bad on that. My advice would work if the eastern ends get finished, but currently it is not really feasible. On the north side where the paved path ends you could continue on the dirt/hay and not have to use the roadway, but on the south side there is only a very narrow space to travel between the side of a hill and the road.

I think that the people who designed and chose those so-tiny-they’re-impossible-to-read “Yield to Pedestrians” signs should join the aforementioned traffic engineers in that level of Hell

I recently did that on foot – my mostly shabbos observant D and her more strictly observant friend who was staying with us wanted to try walking to Chabad. Walking is a bit easier since you can more easily turn in all directions to look, but of course you do not have the option of going in the road. My wife and I walked with them over 495, using the north side path. We agreed that this was at best marginally walkable – (I later drove there, and stayed till shabbat was over, and we drove back)

A. I continue to think the best routes west are either the ped bridge to the CCT, or the bike racks on the 29k bus B. I would still like to see if the Gallows bridge is any better C. I continue to hope to move somewhere that is more bike friendly (and more walkable) When folks complain about the treatment of cyclists by Arlington County, or DC, or City of Alexandria, I do not know whether to laugh or cry.

[bobco85]

@lordofthemark 43581 wrote:

A. I continue to think the best routes west are either the ped bridge to the CCT, or the bike racks on the 29k bus B. I would still like to see if the Gallows bridge is any better C. I continue to hope to move somewhere that is more bike friendly (and more walkable) When folks complain about the treatment of cyclists by Arlington County, or DC, or City of Alexandria, I do not know whether to laugh or cry.

I agree with you on all your points. Living in Arlington, I get to see the best of bicycle facilities, so it’s only when I venture into the great beyond- er, I mean Fairfax County- do I see the stark contrast in transportation infrastructure. On the way to/from the LTR bridge, I was livid after seeing so many pedestrians having to walk in the street on Annandale Road because there were no sidewalks (but there were nice, big parking lanes on both sides of the road that were almost completely empty, like they were there in case someone needed to throw a big party). I was hoping the LTR bridge would be a more viable option because using the CCT pedestrian bridge to get from one side to the other you’ll end up adding about 2.5 extra miles.

I plan on doing an investigation on the Gallows Rd bridge later this week. I’m more hopeful for it because from an initial look on Google Maps, there are less crossings and ramps.

[Mikey]

From out here in the wilderness, a hearty welcome to “Far-fax”. 495 might as be as wide as the Nile, there really only about 3 or 4 legitimate crossings of it from Springfield to Maryland; it’s the reason I ride all the way up to Vienna on my commute from Fairfax to Washington. But to be fair, Fairfax is fairly spread out, there are some good paths and ways to get around on bike, but they don’t always go exactly where you want to go. You just have to be willing to go a little out of your way, and ask county and state reps for more bike infrastructure funding, to fill in the spokes. That said, Annandale is basically an impassable desert.

[ShawnoftheDread]

Decided to try this crossing during commute hours, taking advantage of the extra daylight. Last night heading westbound around 6:00 p.m., I rode in the lane from Hummer Rd to start and then hopped on the sidepath when it started. I think because I timed my entrance for when westbound traffic had a red light at Hummer, I had no problem riding the lane or crossing the ramps in the crosswalks. The signs showing pedestrian crossings are ridiculously small, of course — I had trouble reading them riding by on a bike on the sidewalk. There’s no way drivers have any idea what they even say.

This morning heading east about 7:15, I rode the lane the entire way. No problems, though I assume traffic was extra light because it was early on a Friday.

And it looks like they plan to continue the sidewalks on each side to get closer to Hummer, but who knows how long that will take.

[lordofthemark]

Welcome to my neck of the woods Yes, those signs are bizarrely small. Like VDOT is embarrassed to actually ask drivers to yield. I think the extension of the sidewalks is not supposed to happen till the Annandale Transportation plan with a complete rebuild of LRT happens, and I do not there is currently any funding for that.

[lordofthemark]

@ShawnoftheDread 45606 wrote:

And it looks like they plan to continue the sidewalks on each side to get closer to Hummer, but who knows how long that will take.

Six months, as it turns out.

[bobco85]

@lordofthemark 62930 wrote:

Six months, as it turns out.

What does the sidewalk on the south side of LRT look like? Does it extend east all the way to Hummer or does it angle southward and join Americana Dr? I haven’t been out that way in a while and haven’t seen the completion of the sidewalks.

[lordofthemark]

@bobco85 62948 wrote:

What does the sidewalk on the south side of LRT look like? Does it extend east all the way to Hummer or does it angle southward and join Americana Dr? I haven’t been out that way in a while and haven’t seen the completion of the sidewalks.

it extends east to heritage (its only called hummer NORTH of LRT). it goes straight to Heritage and does not angle south, but it looks like they have reserved space for a side turn to Americana. My assumption is that the project is completed (the equipment all seems to be gone) and that is for the future. But I have not been in touch with anyone official on this, and have been mistaken before (see post above).

I think its a pretty good facility (I rode on it three times this past weekend – once eastbound, twice westbound). The seperation from traffic on LRT is less than ideal, but standard for the area. For those of us not fearless enough to ride on the general travel lanes of LRT (despite knowing that that would solve the problems of the freeway entrance/exit ramps) it provides access from “inner” Annandale to the south side of LRT outside the beltway – which means to the CCT. I think there are gaps in the sidewalk between the bridge and NVCC/Wakefield Chapel – but one could, I guess use the CCT to access residential streets that go that way.

[bobco85]

@lordofthemark 62952 wrote:

it extends east to heritage (its only called hummer NORTH of LRT). it goes straight to Heritage and does not angle south, but it looks like they have reserved space for a side turn to Americana. My assumption is that the project is completed (the equipment all seems to be gone) and that is for the future. But I have not been in touch with anyone official on this, and have been mistaken before (see post above).

I think its a pretty good facility (I rode on it three times this past weekend – once eastbound, twice westbound). The seperation from traffic on LRT is less than ideal, but standard for the area. For those of us not fearless enough to ride on the general travel lanes of LRT (despite knowing that that would solve the problems of the freeway entrance/exit ramps) it provides access from “inner Annandale to the south side of LRT outside the beltway – which means to the CCT. I think there are gaps in the sidewalk between the bridge and NVCC/Wakefield Chapel – but one could, I guess use the CCT to access residential streets that go that way.

Thanks for the update. I’m surprised they were able to continue the sidewalk on the south side. I remember thinking the space between the road and that little hill between LRT and Americana was too narrow for a full sidewalk when I was last there. I’m glad they finally completed the sidewalk.

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