I rode the complete Arlington Loop this morning while the snow/ice pellets/freezing rain was coming down. I encountered two Arlington County Parks vehicles. One was sitting next to the the Key Bridge Marriott and the other was at the Custis/W&OD junction. I’m not sure what they were waiting for in either spot.
My report on trail conditions:
W&OD
From the Custis junction to Columbia Pike the trail was about 80% clear or single and double track. There were serious ice problems at the Wilson Blvd and Carlin Springs underpasses. From Columbia Pike to Shirlington Rd, it was 95% clear/5% single track with a couple icy patches and an ice berm at the west curb cut across from the Barcroft Rec Center. Today’s mix was sticking when I rode through at 9:15 am.
4MRT
Clear from Shirlington Rd to the MVT with the exception of major ice just west of the I-395 underpass, and smaller ice at the W Glebe and Mt Vernon underpasses. This had been treated with brine before I passed through and most of the mix was not sticking at that time.
MVT
A real mixed bag. It was about 75% clear or single track most of the way from 4MR to the Roosevelt Island parking lot. However, there were several long stretches of bumpy rutted ice. The southern overpass at the airport, both approaches to the 14th St bridge complex, and about half of trail across Columbia Island were very difficult to ride even with studded tires. Trollheim had double track for the whole span with a couple of five foot sections that were ice. The wintry mix was icing up the clear sections of the trail when I rode through.
Custis
Clear from previous storms snow/ice from the Roosevelt Island parking lot to the W&OD junction. There was a bad patch of ice on the western side of the bridge over the I-66 exit ramp to Washington Blvd. There was also the usual ice at the Custis/W&OD intersection through the Patrick Henry underpass. Also, the wintry mix was leaving crusty ice on a good portion of the trail.
I also rode across the 14th St Bridge to do a couple laps at EPP/Hains Point. The bridge and both approaches were clear except for what was falling today.
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