Mount Vernon Trail near DCA – Mulch Detours for June 2-3

[Erin Potter]

Received the following info from our friends at NPS:
“On Thursday, June 2 and Friday, June 3, 2016 the Mount Vernon Trail (MVT) in the vicinity of Ronald Reagan National Airport will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. During these times all trail users will be detoured into the mulch path. This detour will allow contractors to complete the stone wall that provides a safety barrier between the Parkway and the MVT. If not completed by 3 p.m. on Friday the trail will close again Monday, June 6 from 9 a.m to 3 p.m.

The final paving of this section of the trail is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, June 7. This paving requires a total, 2 day closure of the MVT. Paving is weather dependent. This paving will complete the MVT trail portion of this project. As more information is available it will be shared.”

BA will share out info as we receive it.

Topic

[Terpfan]

@Erin Potter 140568 wrote:

Received the following info from our friends at NPS:
“On Thursday, June 2 and Friday, June 3, 2016 the Mount Vernon Trail (MVT) in the vicinity of Ronald Reagan National Airport will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. During these times all trail users will be detoured into the mulch path. This detour will allow contractors to complete the stone wall that provides a safety barrier between the Parkway and the MVT. If not completed by 3 p.m. on Friday the trail will close again Monday, June 6 from 9 a.m to 3 p.m.

The final paving of this section of the trail is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, June 7. This paving requires a total, 2 day closure of the MVT. Paving is weather dependent. This paving will complete the MVT trail portion of this project. As more information is available it will be shared.”

BA will share out info as we receive it.

By 9am, they really meant anytime this morning.

[MFC]

At least as of this morning, it looks like southbound riders will get to work on their bunny-hop skills when you get back on the trail from the detour.

[LeprosyStudyGroup]

@Terpfan 140684 wrote:

By 9am, they really meant anytime this morning.

Haha, yeah, I went by at about 7 thinking I’d be fine and it was very closed. The detour is pretty minimal anyways though. Navigating people disconcerted by hills and curbs is the hard part.

[ian74]

It really is just easier to take the Crystal City connector trail to Crystal city and hop back on the MVT via 4 Mile Run (when going southbound). I will just avoid the area completely until it’s all done.

[GovernorSilver]

@Erin Potter 140568 wrote:

Received the following info from our friends at NPS:

With friends like that, who needs enemies?

Sorry, couldn’t resist – after this morning’s obvious miscommunication involving NPS

[CaseyKane50]

@Terpfan 140684 wrote:

By 9am, they really meant anytime this morning.

I sent a note to the NPS this morning about the early closing and the condition of the detour. Here is the response

I’ll forward your comments to the NPS project manager. I’ll be sure to touch base with him to try to address these issues. We’ll have to coordinate with Federal Highway and the contractor too.

I’m sure added mulch shouldn’t be a problem. We’ll see if we can address the narrowness too.

Not following posted hours is unacceptable. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

[KWL]

@ian74 140697 wrote:

It really is just easier to take the Crystal City connector trail to Crystal city and hop back on the MVT via 4 Mile Run (when going southbound). I will just avoid the area completely until it’s all done.

See you Behind the Buildings.

[MFC]

@CaseyKane50 140716 wrote:

I sent a note to the NPS this morning about the early closing and the condition of the detour. Here is the response

I was on it this morning and didn’t see anything worth complaining about, especialy if we are trying to build goodwill with the NPS.

[CaseyKane50]

@MFC 140726 wrote:

I was on it this morning and didn’t see anything worth complaining about, especialy if we are trying to build goodwill with the NPS.

I disagree, safety issues and failure to follow established procedures should be reported. I find that politely reportinga these types of issues are generally well received and help to ensure that a problem is addressed before somebody is seriously injured.

[Terpfan]

@CaseyKane50 140716 wrote:

I sent a note to the NPS this morning about the early closing and the condition of the detour. Here is the response

I’m glad you said something. What’s the point of announcing hours if they won’t keep to them? I understand people wanting to build good will, but I’m in the we’re paying for it therefore there should be some semblance of order to it. Now, I will remove any complaint if they remove that awkward bumpiness on the new pavement.

[MFC]

@CaseyKane50 140731 wrote:

I disagree, safety issues and failure to follow established procedures should be reported. I find that politely reportinga these types of issues are generally well received and help to ensure that a problem is addressed before somebody is seriously injured.

Respectfully, people deal with inconveniences in their commute everyday. I think the NPS employees have better things to do with their time then have having to address cyclists or other commuters whining about trivial inconveniences. So a detour opened early – why is that a big deal? Everything was clearly and NPS did provide notice ahead of time the detour was coming.

This reminds of winter when people whine incessantly about other people’s lights.

[GovernorSilver]

FWIW, I appreciate the work that NPS does for trail users.

However, NPS did say that work would be done from 9 AM-3 PM. It is reasonable for trail users to expect them and any other involved federal agencies, contractors, etc. to stick to the announced schedule, and to let NPS know when the schedule is not followed as announced.

[LeprosyStudyGroup]

I was absolutely sure they would leave the stretch closed through the night, but by 5ish or whenever Andrea and I rode through, it was open, no detour! Nice work! Hope they finish the second stretch tomorrow as planned.

[KWL]

@LeprosyStudyGroup 140746 wrote:

I was absolutely sure they would leave the stretch closed through the night, but by 5ish or whenever Andrea and I rode through, it was open, no detour! Nice work! Hope they finish the second stretch tomorrow as planned.

Now I really wish I could have counted on construction sticking to the published schedule. Then I could have avoided the bus parked in the bike lane on South Clark Street today.

[Judd]

@KWL 140748 wrote:

Now I really wish I could have counted on construction sticking to the published schedule. Then I could have avoided the bus parked in the bike lane on South Clark Street today.

Wait a minute… that’s not just a narrow parking lane? All this time I was wrong.

[Author]

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