Custis Trail Intersection Improvements – Construction to begin later this month

[Erin Potter]

This week, we’ve received notice that trail construction will enter new construction phase with the Custis Trail improvements near Lee Highway, weather permitting.

Per email received:

“During this phase, curb extension installations will continue and work will begin to improve the trail areas near the intersections.
Please note the following regarding maintenance of traffic during this time:
• The north leg of the N. Scott Street /Lee Highway intersection will be restricted to one lane; northbound traffic only. Motorists wishing to exit the North Highlands neighborhood (via N. Scott Street/Lee Highway) will be directed by detour signs to the N. Quinn Street/Lee Highway intersection.
• The north leg of the N. Oak Street/Lee Highway intersection will be restricted to one lane; southbound traffic only. Motorists wishing to enter the North Highlands neighborhood (via N. Oak Street/Lee Highway) will be directed by detour signs to the N. Quinn Street/Lee Highway intersection.
• Jersey barriers will be installed along the third westbound lane on Lee Highway for the Custis Trail detour. The Custis Trail will remain open, but will shift to the roadway behind the barriers between N. Scott and N. Oak Streets. Cyclists and pedestrians are encouraged to proceed with caution in these areas due to the adjacent construction.
• The existing bus stop (ART 55, WMATA 3Y) will be relocated to the west-side of the N. Scott/Lee intersection.
This phase of construction is expected to continue for approximately six weeks, weather permitting.”

Be alert when riding through this area, as changes may progress rapidly.

[Erin Potter]

Here’s your construction update for the Custis Trail Improvement project:

• Next week, the contractor will begin removing the jersey barriers between N. Quinn Street and N. Oak Street. This means that the temporary Custis Trail path will shift back to the permanent alignment between N. Quinn Street and N. Oak Street. The third lane of Lee Highway in this section will remain closed to traffic in order to enable the contractor to complete work at the N. Oak Street intersection.

• The jersey barriers will remain in place between N. Scott and N. Quinn Street to continue to accommodate the Custis Trail detour along this segment of the project.

• The Custis Trail will remain open throughout construction and will be properly marked to clearly direct trail users at the transitions.

• At times during this MOT phase, access to N. Oak Street will be closed or limited to one way for motorists during the standard work hours of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please watch for signs alerting to this temporary restriction.

• Construction of the improvements between the N. Quinn and N. Oak Street intersections are expected to be complete before Bike to Work Day (5/18).

• Due to a fabrication delay, the new traffic signals at N. Scott/Lee Highway intersection will be installed after completion of major construction activities. It is anticipated that they will be installed in the latter half of 2018.

[bentbike33]

This was probably a singular case of a detour being vastly superior to the original route. I shall miss it.

[dasgeh]

If you liked this detour, PLEASE tell Arlington (des@arlingtonva.us will work). We have another project coming to the Custis, and the detour for that one may not be quite as nice.

[baiskeli]

@bentbike33 178083 wrote:

This was probably a singular case of a detour being vastly superior to the original route. I shall miss it.

I agree. Just make the trail for pedestrians and give us a permanent protected lane on the street.

[eminva]

Hello —

+1 for loving the detour. This was my first day bike commuting this week so I don’t know exactly when it happened, but the trail section between Quinn and Oak is open now. Coming inbound, when I returning to the trail from the road at Quinn, there seems to be some kind of gutter between the curb cut and the street. I hit that at my usual somewhat cautious downhill pace and got launched. Was not expecting a mountain bike feature on my morning commute (on the road bike to boot) so it is a two ice pack morning for the elderly shoulders.

I didn’t stop to examine it closely, but did anyone else find the transition a little rough?

Liz

[Judd]

@eminva 178184 wrote:

Hello —

+1 for loving the detour. This was my first day bike commuting this week so I don’t know exactly when it happened, but the trail section between Quinn and Oak is open now. Coming inbound, when I returning to the trail from the road at Quinn, there seems to be some kind of gutter between the curb cut and the street. I hit that at my usual somewhat cautious downhill pace and got launched. Was not expecting a mountain bike feature on my morning commute (on the road bike to boot) so it is a two ice pack morning for the elderly shoulders.

I didn’t stop to examine it closely, but did anyone else find the transition a little rough?

Liz

Nooooo! Hope you’re ok.

I didn’t notice the issue with the transition.

[sjclaeys]

@eminva 178184 wrote:

Hello —

+1 for loving the detour. This was my first day bike commuting this week so I don’t know exactly when it happened, but the trail section between Quinn and Oak is open now. Coming inbound, when I returning to the trail from the road at Quinn, there seems to be some kind of gutter between the curb cut and the street. I hit that at my usual somewhat cautious downhill pace and got launched. Was not expecting a mountain bike feature on my morning commute (on the road bike to boot) so it is a two ice pack morning for the elderly shoulders.

I didn’t stop to examine it closely, but did anyone else find the transition a little rough?

Liz

I’ve noticed those transitions too, though while going uphill so no unexpected air for me. Disappointing that the Custis was left in worse shape, plus a missed opportunity to repave and smooth it out.

[accordioneur]

I noticed that rough transition Monday morning. I switch up my routes so haven’t ridden it since. Hope you’re OK!

[huskerdont]

I noticed some rough areas as well. I hope they’ll be smoothing them out.

Also, I was surprised that the whole trail section wasn’t repaved considering how long it was closed, but they only did the top part of the one section that’s reopened. It’s not the worst section of the Custis, but that uneven pavement near the fence opening to the apartments could have used repaving.

Hope the shoulders heal up quickly.

[bentbike33]

@huskerdont 178190 wrote:

I was surprised that the whole trail section wasn’t repaved considering how long it was closed, but they only did the top part of the one section that’s reopened.

Yeah, all they did was patch 2 divots in that section behind the sound wall.

[dasgeh]

@eminva 178184 wrote:

Hello —

+1 for loving the detour. This was my first day bike commuting this week so I don’t know exactly when it happened, but the trail section between Quinn and Oak is open now. Coming inbound, when I returning to the trail from the road at Quinn, there seems to be some kind of gutter between the curb cut and the street. I hit that at my usual somewhat cautious downhill pace and got launched. Was not expecting a mountain bike feature on my morning commute (on the road bike to boot) so it is a two ice pack morning for the elderly shoulders.

I didn’t stop to examine it closely, but did anyone else find the transition a little rough?

Liz

Ugh! Sorry this happened. I also noticed the rough transition and will email the project manager. If memory serves, when this was presented to the BAC, we were told this would be a “table” type crosswalk, where cars go up, instead of what we have…

[Starduster]

Good morning all! [Looks up] I’m leading a bike ride through the Custis Saturday morning. Been a few weeks since I last rode the route. Anything else I need to know about?

[dasgeh]

@Starduster 178220 wrote:

Good morning all! [Looks up] I’m leading a bike ride through the Custis Saturday morning. Been a few weeks since I last rode the route. Anything else I need to know about?

The bumps aren’t too bad when you’re headed uphill. Downhill, just slow way down. And when you’re done, write the County on how you find this unacceptable. des@arlingtonva.us would do just fine.

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