Custis Trail Tree Work

[Tim Kelley]

From an email from the County Trail Manager:

“I met with the county’s contractor today regarding overdue tree work along the Custis trail. They are able to start tomorrow December 15 and will continue with multiple crews next week. Work includes: removal of dead trees, removal of dead limbs, pruning away from light fixtures, removal of trees affecting structures, removal of invasive tree species and clean-up. The trail will remain open during the process. Flag men will be on site to direct pedestrians and cyclists. They will be working during non-rush hour times during the day.”

Be alert!

Topic

[OneEighth]

The best part of coming across the tree crew this morning was the opportunity to a a quick, mushy, tree-branch-strewn dogleg off the path in honor of cx season.
I did make sure to thank them for their work, too.

[consularrider]

I doubt many cyclists coming east downhill towards Rosslyn were thanking them. Just before 9 am a large truck with a wood chipper attachment was trying to navigate the narrow opening of the Custis at Oak St. With the sound wall on the south and building abutments on the north it was a tight fit. By the way, there were no flag men in view warning cyclists further up the hill of the up coming total trail obstruction. There should have been a detour at Scott or Quinn so people could have gone around this work area. I was lucky since I was heading west and just got on Lee Highway by the Marriott and bypassed the mess.

[dasgeh]

Before 9 am doesn’t sound like non-rush hour work times to me.

[Tim Kelley]

@consularrider 12016 wrote:

I doubt many cyclists coming east downhill towards Rosslyn were thanking them. Just before 9 am a large truck with a wood chipper attachment was trying to navigate the narrow opening of the Custis at Oak St. With the sound wall on the south and building abutments on the north it was a tight fit. By the way, there were no flag men in view warning cyclists further up the hill of the up coming total trail obstruction. There should have been a detour at Scott or Quinn so people could have gone around this work area. I was lucky since I was heading west and just got on Lee Highway by the Marriott and bypassed the mess.

I passed these complaints along to the Trail Manager and heard the following back,

“I have spoken to the contractor about his early arrival, trail obstruction and lack of personnel ahead of the vehicle. He agrees to correct the issues.”

Fingers crossed!

[consularrider]

@Tim Kelley 12028 wrote:

I passed these complaints along to the Trail Manager and heard the following back,

“I have spoken to the contractor about his early arrival, trail obstruction and lack of personnel ahead of the vehicle. He agrees to correct the issues.”

Fingers crossed!

Must be nice to have clout.

[Tim Kelley]

@consularrider 12049 wrote:

Must be nice to have clout.

Well the Trail Manager wouldn’t know about it if you hadn’t said something!

[OneEighth]

I thought the guys on the job were really courteous this morning when I rode through there—which was a short bit after 0900, by which time they were set up and had a marked detour from the trail. Please pass that along as well, Tim.
Thanks.
Tom

[sjclaeys]

The rules for when the tree work is done have apparently changed. Both today and Friday they shut down part of Custis Trail by 7:30 am. The detour on Friday was not that bad, but today’s detour sent trail users on to Lee Highway during rush hour and did not have good signage on how to get back on the trail.

[OneEighth]

Closing a segment of a fairly heavily traveled commuter route during rush hour just isn’t common sense.

[americancyclo]

I was surprised to ride up on these guys today, and a little disappointed that a lot of folks opted to ride the sidewalk back to the Custis. I took the opportunity to zoom down Lee towards Rosslyn. That section is always fun. Merging in to traffic to cross the Key Bridge though, not so much.

[elbows]

I was one of the cyclists on the sidewalk this morning and there were a lot of us. I was also surprised to see Custis closed during rushhour. Sorry to disappoint but I don’t know that area well and wasn’t going to take my chances getting on Lee Highway not knowing how I would get off of Lee Highway or what was coming up ahead.

[americancyclo]

@elbows 12790 wrote:

Sorry to disappoint but I don’t know that area well and wasn’t going to take my chances getting on Lee Highway not knowing how I would get off of Lee Highway or what was coming up ahead.

Really more disappointed in the lack of signage or planning on the part of the maintenance staff. I only knew that Lee Hwy would be ok to ride from having other cyclists take me down that way previously.

[patdoc98]

@elbows 12790 wrote:

I was one of the cyclists on the sidewalk this morning and there were a lot of us. I was also surprised to see Custis closed during rushhour. Sorry to disappoint but I don’t know that area well and wasn’t going to take my chances getting on Lee Highway not knowing how I would get off of Lee Highway or what was coming up ahead.

Me too — the orange detour signs seemed to point to the sidewalk, and I wasn’t sure how long the detour would be today, so I rode on the sidewalk. (On Friday, it was about half the distance, right?) As I passed a woman walking her dog, “Sorry, on your left, sorry, sorry.” Hate the sidewalk. At least the work on the trail near EFC metro seems to be about done.

Does anyone know when the work will be done?

[DismalScientist]

Clarendon Blvd or at least Scott and Key Blvd are calling. Plus no Lee/Lynn deathtrap!

[sjclaeys]

It seems that we’ve established that there is a problem here, or at least a significant lack of communication from Arlington County about what is going on regarding the tree work. I thought that raising this issue on this forum would generate a response, but so far I guess not.

[Author]

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