How to report construction that blocks bike lanes?

[mstone]

@DrP 144833 wrote:

Anyone know where to complain?

You’ve come to the right place!

[tnelson]

Call the police? It seems like they’re the ones who would have to instruct construction vehicles to move.

Otherwise, take photos of the situation, and send them to VDOT. Hopefully it’ll make it from customer service down to the crews.

[DrP]

@mstone 144863 wrote:

You’ve come to the right place!

I guess I should have been more clear. To whom should I report the situation so that it is rectified properly?

[DrP]

@tnelson 144878 wrote:

Call the police? It seems like they’re the ones who would have to instruct construction vehicles to move.

Otherwise, take photos of the situation, and send them to VDOT. Hopefully it’ll make it from customer service down to the crews.

I have a dumb phone and usually just want to get home, so photos are tough. I will see if there is an appropriate place to complain to VDOT. I just kind of figured that there would be an appropriate Arl. Co. web page to report such items. At one point there was a web page one could report home construction violations (I and my neighbors did repeatedly during the construction of the monster across the street that started making loud noise before 7am, continually parked in front of the fire hydrant, and other items.), but I have not been able to locate this. Perhaps it was too popular?

[chris_s]

VDOT roads = VDOT right-of-way permits. Push the safety angle and don’t be surprised if the only concession you can get is better signage. They’re a tough nut to crack.

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

[DrP]

@chris_s 144884 wrote:

VDOT roads = VDOT right-of-way permits. Push the safety angle and don’t be surprised if the only concession you can get is better signage. They’re a tough nut to crack.

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

Thank you.

[mstone]

@DrP 144882 wrote:

I guess I should have been more clear. To whom should I report the situation so that it is rectified properly?

There isn’t a place for that. This is construction. If you get in the way you’re basically destroying jobs and ruining the economy. Or something.

[Judd]

@mstone 144892 wrote:

There isn’t a place for that. This is construction. If you get in the way you’re basically destroying jobs and ruining the economy. Or something.

Why don’t bicyclists want to make America Great Again? Lock them up! Lock them up!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[DrP]

@mstone 144892 wrote:

There isn’t a place for that. This is construction. If you get in the way you’re basically destroying jobs and ruining the economy. Or something.

Wouldn’t I be creating jobs by requiring someone to stand there directing traffic? And having someone create and manufacture more signs that now list “bike lane” and “pedestrian access” in black on a bright orange background?

Sigh.

I did note that these closures were not listed on the VDOT Northern Virginia Lane Closures list for this week and sent a note to the person in charge of that, also commenting on the lack if safety of the closures. Unlikely to get much done. But who knows.

[DrP]

Well, VDOT just informed me that that particular stretch of Fairfax Drive is not under VDOT control. I should talk to Arlington, but they no idea what group there would handle this.

And VDOT told me that in any case there should be no issue in crossing Fairfax twice (Wakefield and Glebe) to get around it. Cars don’t have to do that, but peds and bikes do? (I did comment back on this point to the person I contacted in the vain hope of getting the person to realize that the world isn’t about cars).

[CaseyKane50]

In Alexandria, Transportation and Environmental Services (T&ES) is responsible for issuing permits for construction on streets and sidewalks. I have been routinely contacting the Permits department for improper signage and protection on sidewalk projects. Contractors are supposed to use the Virgina Work Area Protection Manual for temporary traffic Control.

From Chapter 6A of the Virginia Work Area Protection Plan

The needs and control of all road users (motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians within the highway, or on private roads open to public travel (see definition in Section 1A.13 of the Virginia Supplement to the 2009 MUTCD), including persons with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), Title II, Paragraph 35.130) through a TTC zone shall be an essential part of highway construction, utility work, maintenance operations, and the management of traffic incidents.

What I have seen in Alexandria is contractors do not routinely follow the manual, nor do inspectors enforce. I send a photo each time I note a problem. Maybe someday contractors will grasp the importance of safety for all users.

In searching the Arlington County web pages, I found a Transportation Right-of-Way Permit Guide page. This page references issuing permits for lane and sidewalk closures and also references the Virginia Work Area Protection Plan. On the page is a phone number for the Development Services Permitting and Inspection Counter (703) 228-3629. You might start there

[Steve O]

@DrP 144928 wrote:

Well, VDOT just informed me that that particular stretch of Fairfax Drive is not under VDOT control. I should talk to Arlington, but they no idea what group there would handle this.

That’s interesting. I looked it up, and VDOT has Fairfax from Kirkwood to Glebe (and 10th St east of Kirkwood, so the entire distance from Rte. 50 to Glebe). Presumably it’s also VDOT’s as soon as it becomes the I-66 ramp, wherever that is exactly. So a few hundred feet of Fairfax between Glebe and the point it becomes the ramp are Arlington’s.

[chris_s]

@DrP 144928 wrote:

Well, VDOT just informed me that that particular stretch of Fairfax Drive is not under VDOT control. I should talk to Arlington, but they no idea what group there would handle this.

des@arlingtonva.us

Describe the situation, ask if it is a permitted closure, ask for it to be improved and ask what their Right of Way Permit # is.

[mstone]

@DrP 144928 wrote:

And VDOT told me that in any case there should be no issue in crossing Fairfax twice (Wakefield and Glebe) to get around it. Cars don’t have to do that, but peds and bikes do?

You may not have noticed, but it’s SOP for VDOT to install major intersections with crosswalks on only three sides, so they can schedule turn arrows without ever having to wait for pesky pedestrians. This means, of course, that pedestrians on the losing side must cross three times to get from one corner to the other. So, yeah, I do not in any way find it hard to believe that VDOT thinks something that’s reasonable 365 days a year at an intersection they design is also reasonable during a temporary detour.

[consularrider]

@DrP 144928 wrote:

Well, VDOT just informed me that that particular stretch of Fairfax Drive is not under VDOT control. I should talk to Arlington, but they no idea what group there would handle this.

And VDOT told me that in any case there should be no issue in crossing Fairfax twice (Wakefield and Glebe) to get around it. Cars don’t have to do that, but peds and bikes do? (I did comment back on this point to the person I contacted in the vain hope of getting the person to realize that the world isn’t about cars).

Someday I’m going to rent an old fashioned bulldozer just to drive through those construction sites and clear the bike lanes.

[Author]

Posts