Custis Trail connector at Fairfax Drive & Glebe Road

[Tim Kelley]

From my Inbox:

Several County staff members met today with the foreman from Clark Construction at the Marymount University building site (Fairfax Drive & N. Glebe Road in Ballston) to discuss the current conditions on the Custis Trail connector path.

Clark is working to expedite completion of the new pavement for the connection between the Custis Trail and N. Wakefield Street. They expect to have the work done by next Wednesday, May 24th but may be able to partially open the route by this weekend. Unfortunately they will not have the job completed before this Friday’s Bike to Work Day.

County staff are requiring Clark to make several improvements to existing conditions ASAP. Clark will sign a detour around the site that uses N. Wakefield Street, and existing path near the 4601 Fairfax Drive office building and the asphalt trail near the Ballston beaver pond. The detour is to be in place this Wednesday and to be removed in about a week when the Custis Trail connector is ready to be reopened. The portion of the trail connector between N. Wakefield Street and Glebe Road will be made safer and more accessible through removal of some temporary obstructions and smoothing out of the transitions with asphalt patching. Those measures are expected to be implemented within 24 hours. In the meantime we caution trail users to be careful of ongoing construction activities when traveling in the area.

County staff will continue to check on the site at least once daily and follow up on correcting any problems that persist or arise.

[Steve O]

I went by there today around 2pm, and there was no directional signage for westbound people on bike or on foot. This is the 3rd time I have reported the fact that these contractors are out of compliance with Maintenance of Traffic. I even noted this desperate pedestrian out in the middle of the highway ramps. I originally reported this public danger on May 8, more than a week ago, and received assurances from Ritch Viola that it would be addressed immediately. Fail.

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[Brett L.]

So this was reported 8 days ago, and they’re finally getting around to resolving this absolutely horrible diversion scenario. Nice response time there County.

[scoot]

Meantime, the county could at least sign an official detour using 10th, George Mason, and the 4800 block of Fairfax. I find this easier anyway when eastbound, because it puts you on the correct side of the street.

[Steve O]

Eminva made a video. Watch carefully at 0:35-0:40 and you see some poor guy with a stroller stuck in the middle of the construction.

[sjclaeys]

Here is Arlington County in a nutshell: individual homeowner who want to put on an addition to their house – problem; large developer who can’t be bothered to create safe detours around their construction – no problem.

[fongfong]

Sorry for the double post, but gosh Arlington County, there people are serial abusers. Break out a few fines and they will get moving. 2 weeks without any pavement there seems something that warrants actual penalties.

[Sunyata]

When I rode through there yesterday afternoon, there was no signed detour. I actually had to STOP on the side of the 66 ramp to get from the road to the trail as there is a newly installed curb (8″ high) and no curb cut. Insanely dangerous, but as I was expecting the aforementioned signed detour, I went that way and did not have time to turn around and figure out the detour on my own.

I realise that the cobbles were a little wonky, but I am not really sure WHY this contractor felt the need to rip everything up that worked quite nicely and do whatever the heck it is that they are doing that appears to be making things less safe (in the long term) and stupidly dangerous (in the short term). The curb cuts that are being installed for both this section and the section directly in front of the new building appear to be very odd and narrow.

[mstone]

@Sunyata 160239 wrote:

I realise that the cobbles were a little wonky, but I am not really sure WHY this contractor felt the need to rip everything up that worked quite nicely and do whatever the heck it is that they are doing that appears to be making things less safe (in the long term) and stupidly dangerous (in the short term). The curb cuts that are being installed for both this section and the section directly in front of the new building appear to be very odd and narrow.

I haven’t seen the curb cuts in question, but from the description I’d guess they’re the new ADA standard which is narrow with sharp sides rather than having a wide apron. I don’t know what the positive aspects are, but they’re horrible for cyclists at all times, and presumably horrible for wheelchair users once they fill up with debris. I *think* they’re supposed to be easier to find with a cane, but they really miss the mark on balancing demands.

[dbb]

Take a look at sec 406 (Curb Ramps) of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Guidelines

https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/2010ADAStandards/2010ADAstandards.htm#c4

The slopes of the curb ramps (including the sides) cannot exceed 1:10, so you end up with a trapezoid shaped ramp. Sec 406.6 discusses corner type curb ramps which sort of aim diagonally into the intersection, bisecting the two routes across the roadways.

[Mario20136]

@Sunyata 160239 wrote:

When I rode through there yesterday afternoon, there was no signed detour. I actually had to STOP on the side of the 66 ramp to get from the road to the trail as there is a newly installed curb (8″ high) and no curb cut. Insanely dangerous, but as I was expecting the aforementioned signed detour, I went that way and did not have time to turn around and figure out the detour on my own.

I realise that the cobbles were a little wonky, but I am not really sure WHY this contractor felt the need to rip everything up that worked quite nicely and do whatever the heck it is that they are doing that appears to be making things less safe (in the long term) and stupidly dangerous (in the short term). The curb cuts that are being installed for both this section and the section directly in front of the new building appear to be very odd and narrow.

I came off W&OD trail this morning headed to Ballston. I had some extra time this morning and decided to follow the detour sign. Guess what, the detour sign is @#$ useless! Why bother posting a detour sign that leads to nowhere. Who ever painted that sign is short of an oxymoron!

This is going to be a concern for tomorrow’s commute – Bike to Work Day!!!

😡

[Steve O]

I just sent this email to everyone, including the County Board and the County Manager

Hello Ritch,

I just rode through there about 12:30 pm. Nothing has changed. It is still just as dangerous and unmarked as before. There were lots of people out walking around lunchtime having to navigate through construction traffic without sidewalks, with orange barriers blocking their paths, etc. Westbound trail users have no signage whatsoever. Nothing. No way to know what to do to get around/through the construction zone. Eastbound trail users have a single hand-drawn sign that says “Detour” with a left arrow. Once they go left there is nothing. They must fend for themselves.

TOMORROW IS BIKE TO WORK DAY!!!
Tomorrow scores of brand-new bicycle riders will be coming down the Ballston Connector to get to the Ballston pitstop. People who have never been there before. They will have no idea what to do or where to go. People leaving the Ballston pit stop and going to the Custis Trail to continue to Falls Church and beyond will encounter the exact same situation you noted on May 9, when you expressed concern about people riding in the road mixing with high-speed ramp traffic. Nothing has changed. Nothing. Arlington has completely failed to provide clear, safe passage for this construction zone.
This must be fixed today. Tomorrow is Bike to Work Day. Clark Construction has proven that they are incapable of doing it, so Arlington must. Imagine if someone is injured tomorrow on Bike to Work Day due to the gross negligence of this project.
I’ve attached a few photos I took just an hour ago.

Did I mention that tomorrow is Bike to Work Day? The biggest day of the year to encourage people to try out bike commuting. Do something.

[Steve O]

At 3:03 PM I received this email

Detour signs for a route around the construction site were installed today by County crews. Staff will continue to press Clark Construction to have them better protect the safety of the public traveling around their work site.

[dasgeh]

The County just wrote back — the County has put in detour signs (the email had pictures – I can’t post but maybe someone else can).

If anyone else heads through there tonight/tomorrow, please post a report/pictures. This issue has been elevated, so having up to date information is helpful.

[Sunyata]

@dasgeh 160275 wrote:

The County just wrote back — the County has put in detour signs (the email had pictures – I can’t post but maybe someone else can).

If anyone else heads through there tonight/tomorrow, please post a report/pictures. This issue has been elevated, so having up to date information is helpful.

I am heading through there shortly. Will take pictures and report after I get home.

[Author]

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