MVT at Humpback and 14th St Bridge – Fencing

[dbb]

The fencing along the ramp leading to the 14th St Bridge and on either side of the Humpback needs removal or repair. If the wind is blowing off the water, the fencing leans over the trail.

I sent the following message to the GW Parkway Superintendent a couple of weeks ago but have seen no improvement in the fencing.

“The snow fence on the north and south of the Humpback Bridge along the trail is loose and blocks part of the trail when the wind blows. This presents a hazard to cyclists and pedestrians that the NPS can easily mitigate. This same problem exists with the construction barrier fencing along the connection between the Mount Vernon Trail and the bike/ped lane across the 14th St Bridge. While I would recommend removing both, if you feel they should remain, please resecure them to their supports.”

Maybe they monitor the forum.

Dana

[Tim Kelley]

@dbb 18327 wrote:

Maybe they monitor the forum.

I doubt that. I would suggest following up again, and enlisting some other forum members to contact NPS with concerns.

[dbb]

Just sent the following to:

GWMP_Superintendent@nps.gov

“Sirs,

This is a follow up to an earlier email where I reported the snow or construction fencing on the MVT extension down from the 14th Street Bridge and on both sides of the Humpback Bridge is in need of repair.

In both locations, the fencing is not secured and often blows into the trail, presenting hazards for cyclists, runners and walkers. Along the 14th St Bridge extension, the fencing there is full of debris as well.

Images of both locations are at:

http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?2110-MVT-at-Humpback-and-14th-St-Bridge-Fencing

This is the only email address I have for the GWMP. If there is a different address I should use, please advise.

Because this is a follow up, please respond to acknowledge receipt.

Thank you”

[dbb]

Followed up with a call to the GWMP offices (703-419-6400). The lady I spoke with said maintenance issues emails to the superintendent regularly get routed to them but in the absence of that, she would ask the maintenance leader to check it out. On my ride home, the orange fence had been replaced, the debris appeared to have been removed and the snow fence at the Humpback seemed to have been secured.

I’ll check it out tomorrow.

[KLizotte]

Whooohooo dbb! Way to go!!

One does have to wonder why NPS insists on keeping those fences up though. They are an eyesore and don’t seem to have any useful purpose.

[dbb]

It seems that the fencing along the 14th Street Bridge trail are giving the slope time to recover. Peds and cyclists were heading down the slope at the end of the abutment. That said, I’d think that a permanent solution could have been designed and implemented by now.

In a past life as a facilities engineer, I planted barberry bushes to deny access to peds. The thorns in the bushes performed as intended and nobody cut through those areas. On the slope, that might be a plan.

It might make sense for me to add the NPS GWMP number to my address book as the debris may continue to pile up.

AM 19 Apr – Response from the NPS

“I appreciate you alerting us to the fence falling down, and we will follow up by either fixing the current fence or replacing it. I think we still need some kind of fencing in that location.

Thanks!

Jon G. James
Acting Park Superintendent”

[dasgeh]

Why not plant blackberry bushes? Spiky, and provide snacks for summer rides!

[DCAKen]

@dasgeh 18466 wrote:

Why not plant blackberry bushes? Spiky, and provide snacks for summer rides!

Until you imagine all the people stopping on the trail to pick a blackberry…

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