Memorial Bridge lane closures will be "permanent" through 2021

[Starduster]

To verify that this *was* a Coffeeneuring journey: [ATTACH=CONFIG]20513[/ATTACH]

[Dewey]

Since November 2 the South Side Memorial Bridge sidewalk has been closed to pedestrians/cyclists who can take the North sidewalk. This morning was the first time I’ve ridden on the reconstructed North sidewalk and agree with Brendan’s post from 1 year ago it is a greatly improved surface.

[Judd]

Update from a call I had with NPS last week was that they’re on schedule and on budget. Work is almost finished.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Dewey]

The workmen have scraped the road surface around Memorial Circle. There is temporarily a 3″ drop entering and exiting the crosswalk on the North side of Memorial Circle at the West end and no crosswalk markings in the roadway. Hopefully this will be resurfaced and striped quickly.

[Judd]

Just got word that the Memorial Circle changes have been completed. Has anyone gone through yet? What do you think?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dcv]

@Judd 203416 wrote:

Just got word that the Memorial Circle changes have been completed. Has anyone gone through yet? What do you think?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

so luxurious

[ATTACH=CONFIG]21897[/ATTACH]

https://youtu.be/gxr9U6dG3Bg

[komorebi]

@Judd 203416 wrote:

Just got word that the Memorial Circle changes have been completed. Has anyone gone through yet? What do you think?

I went through this morning. NPS has laid down so much white paint and so many white flexposts that I think drivers are slowing down just because they’re blinded by the contrast between the white paint and the black pavement. But it did seem that the driver who stopped to let me go through the crosswalk started braking earlier than normal. So that’s good.

Further south on the Washington Boulevard trail, the trail still crosses two lanes of car traffic going from the GW Parkway to Washington Boulevard. NPS added flexposts along the lane markers in the car lanes — I guess to visually narrow the lanes for drivers? I estimate that the flexposts’ life expectancy is about three weeks max until drivers mow them down, but it was a nice thought.

[Dewey]

The button activated flashing lights are now turned on at the crosswalks North and South of Memorial Circle, however the post is inconveniently situated some distance from the path curb cut. This morning I found I needed to dismount to activate the light and by the time I started crossing, the cars that had stopped had begun to move forward again, which kind of defeats the purpose. At least the traffic stopped for the lights and together with the lane narrowing it does appear to be slowing traffic.

[Judd]

@komorebi 203515 wrote:

I estimate that the flexposts’ life expectancy is about three weeks max until drivers mow them down, but it was a nice thought.

Indeed. One flex post down a week after installation at the crossover to the trail to the Pentagon.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Judd]

Appreciate any other thoughts from folks. I often have the opportunity to provide feedback to NPS about trail related things.

I went out and biked it and also sat and observed each crossing for a few minutes.

A few thoughts:
1. Traffic was much slower.
2. Drivers stopped much more often even when approaching the crosswalk.
3. Lots of drivers stopped at the white line before the crosswalk.
4. Agree with the comment that the buttons for the RRFBs are too far away from the trail. The one mentioned is probably not accessible to a wheel chair user and is too awkward for someone on bike to hit and be able to quickly cross.
5. The button for half the RRFBs are on the wrong side of the trail. A user has to cross to the left side of the trail to hit the button and the cross diagonally in the crosswalk to return to the correct side of the trail.
6. The RRFB lights are not visible to the trail user after hitting the button so it’s impossible to know if they’re actually activated.
7. The north crossing where drivers are coming off Memorial Bridge is still scary. Driver stoping compliance is still very very low although they are moving a bit slower.

A few pictures:

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[huberww]

As much as I love the renovated Memorial Bridge, the north side crossing continues to, and probably always will, be scary as you say. I go to great lengths to avoid the north side, though both sides ride like butter nowadays. Thank you NPS!!

South side feels significantly safer with the new flex posts and paint schemes. But I have already seen numerous car-on-car traffic incidents (in my limited times lately, even though I used to be a daily commuter through that crossing). So, we probably need to be vigilant for any re-engineering that may be proposed in the future to minimize car crashes. (Or maybe those drivers will learn …??)

[Author]

Posts