Mt. Vernon Trail rebuilding, parallel to Abingdon Drive

[PotomacCyclist]

http://syip.virginiadot.org/Pages/lineitemDetails.aspx?syp_scenario_id=202&line_item_id=1059278

According to the VDOT database, the MVT will be widened along the section parallel to Abingdon Drive in Alexandria. The VDOT description is confusing. (I had to look up a 2011 Alexandria presentation.) It’s the section that runs from Slaters Lane, along E. Abingdon Drive. The existing sidewalk is very narrow and unsuitable for bike traffic. (It’s barely wide enough for pedestrians.) The sidewalk runs next to the fence and trees that hide the old GenOn power plant.

http://goo.gl/maps/FvzfQ

For cyclists that use the riverside path of the MVT, this won’t change anything. But for those who use the Abingdon Dr. path between Slaters Lane and Bashford Lane, this will be a welcome improvement. Riding from Potomac Ave. and Potomac Yard to Old Town will be less confusing. (The alternate MVT runs halfway down the block between Slaters and Bashford before turning diagonally on a separated path to Bashford.)

Currently, when I ride over the Monroe Ave.-Rte. 1 bridge and then down Slaters Lane, I have to remember to turn right onto W. Abingdon Drive. Then I turn left onto Bashford Lane to head over to Royal St. and Old Town. The first time I took that route, I stayed on Slaters Lane and crossed the GW Parkway. Then I tried to ride on that sidewalk along E. Abingdon Drive to Bashford Lane. (I couldn’t ride southbound on the E. Abingdon road since it’s a one-way street northbound.) There are no route signs advising cyclists to use W. Abingdon when riding between Potomac Ave. and Old Town. You just have to figure it out, or try to use that semi-sidewalk on E. Abingdon.

Anyway, construction is supposed to start in FY2014. Work crews may have to remove the old GenOn fence and a lot of trees. If not, then I guess they would use one of the car traffic lanes, but I’m not sure VDOT is planning to do that. I hope this is just the start of improved bike and pedestrian paths in the area of the former GenOn generating plant. The riverside MVT alternative is more scenic, but it has those sub-par blind turns. (The mirrors help, but a better MVT would be ideal.)

Topic

[bobco85]

It’s good that the half-block stretch of trail along Abingdon will be widened. I frequently see people salmoning in the street because things get too tight.

I do wish that they would also do tree root removal for the accompanying trail that runs between Abingdon and the corner of Royal/Bashford. Whose jurisdiction is it? I don’t think the apartment building would shell out the money for a paved path, but the one there needs to be fixed, too, due to all the tree roots that make the path really bumpy and unsafe when it’s dark.

[cyclingfool]

@bobco85 68938 wrote:

It’s good that the half-block stretch of trail along Abingdon will be widened. I frequently see people salmoning in the street because things get too tight.

I do wish that they would also do tree root removal for the accompanying trail that runs between Abingdon and the corner of Royal/Bashford. Whose jurisdiction is it? I don’t think the apartment building would shell out the money for a paved path, but the one there needs to be fixed, too, due to all the tree roots that make the path really bumpy and unsafe when it’s dark.

That stretch is city of Alexandria’s jurisdiction, and while I haven’t ridden it yet (or am even sure of it’s timeline), Alexandria’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Manager indicated to Alexandria BPAC at the end of October that “The City is working on [a] paving project on [that] section.” Might already be fixed…?

In the same email she mentioned a separate project related to the sidewalk and connection up to Slaters Lane, presumably the VDOT work in the OP.

[Rootchopper]

The section of the trail that connects Abingdon to Royal was repaved a couple of weeks ago. It’s quite nice but that will change as the tree roots do their thing. Good on Alexandria for fixing a very dangerous section of “trail”.

[bobco85]

@Rootchopper 68961 wrote:

The section of the trail that connects Abingdon to Royal was repaved a couple of weeks ago. It’s quite nice but that will change as the tree roots do their thing. Good on Alexandria for fixing a very dangerous section of “trail”.

Thanks for the update. I hadn’t been on that section in over a month and am glad to know it’s been taken care of.

[CaseyKane50]

Some photos of the new paving.

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[Terpfan]

Yah, I noticed the repaving last week and decided to take that section this morning. It felt great. I just hope it will last. Usually I would take Royal to 2nd then go left and head up Abingdon.

The sidewalk is never good if anyone or thing is on it. I usually go river route on the way home for that very reason. Although I did follow some other cyclists three weeks ago down it. No traffic salmoning, but it was sad because a car at Bashford (crossing north/west toward Rt 1) saw us all doing it and mistakenly thought E. Abingdon went the direction toward OT. I only hope they figured it out before traffic started coming down.

Of course, I’m still holding out a little iota of hope that if they ever stop using that train track that it could simply become a path. Would be awesome linking to Buzz/Rustico area of Slaters and then down to MVT. Pipe dreams, I know. But I can cling to them.

[PotomacCyclist]

@CaseyKane50 69329 wrote:

Some photos of the new paving.

I may actually use that part of the trail again. I think the last time I rode on that small stretch was 2 or 3 years ago. I’ve always ridden on Bashford Lane and either W. or E. Abingdon (depending on whether I’m heading north or south) because that path used to be so bumpy.

[Author]

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