October 2018 – Road & Trail Conditions

[dbb]

I got a note from the NPS re: the bridge closing.

“If you haven’t noticed, the connection at the stop of the stairs is open for use – just took a day.”

[LeprosyStudyGroup]

lol, did that same note also like us to know that sometimes a pipe is just a pipe.

[dasgeh]

@dbb 181810 wrote:

I got a note from the NPS re: the bridge closing.

“If you haven’t noticed, the connection at the stop of the stairs is open for use – just took a day.”

Can your sources let us know whether/when/which Memorial Bridge sidepath will be closed?

[JanaeBixby]

I contacted NPS yesterday and got the following response:

ME: Looking to get an update regarding the dates of closure of the 14th street bridge to pedestrians and cyclists. I noticed we were still able to use the bridge this week, depsite the original plan to detour to the memorial bridge. Was wondering if there were new dates selected for the closure. Thanks.

NPS: While we expected there to be no access to or from the bridge this week (October 7-13), we were very pleasantly surprised that the contractor was able to structure the work in order to restore access to the staircase next to the bridge after only one day of work. So no worries that it has been rescheduled – the work has been completed and there will be access to the bridge for the remainder of the project.

Mike

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mike Litterst
Chief of Communications

National Park Service
National Mall & Memorial Parks
900 Ohio Drive, SW
Washington, DC 20024
Phone: (202) 245-4676

I got Mike’s contact from this site: https://www.nps.gov/nama/learn/news/biketrailwork.htm

[Erin Potter]

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Just received the above as a press release. It appears the new traffic patterns for Memorial Bridge, including sidewalk closure of the downstream side, will begin on Monday, October 15.
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[Erin Potter]

From my inbox: Be alert for some changes around the W&OD/Four Mile Run/Walter Reed intersection starting October 15th, weather permitting..

South Walter Reed Drive Improvements
– Phase I of construction will initially focus on the southeast corner of Arlington Mill/Walter Reed intersection and the northwest corner of the Four Mile Run/Walter Reed/W&OD Trail intersection. Any necessary detours will be signed in the field. These corner improvements will be addressed within the first week.
– Construction will then shift to the west side of Walter Reed Drive between Four Mile Run Drive and Arlington Mill Drive. Please note that the west side sidewalk will be closed during this time, and detours will be signed in the field to direct pedestrians and cyclists around the work. Commercial driveways will remain open during construction.
– Demolition work will also begin on Arlington Mill Drive in preparation for the refuge island improvements.
– Expected duration of Phase I: 15 weeks
– Work hours will be 9 am to 4 pm, Monday – Friday.

[OneEighth]

Tree down and blocking the Custis near the pond that is just East of Quincy Street.

[DrP]

@OneEighth 181830 wrote:

Tree down and blocking the Custis near the pond that is just East of Quincy Street.

As of 7:15am the underbrush of it was cleared enough to be able to pass eastbound underneath it with some slowing (or avoid debris). Westbound might have been passable, depending on your height.

[Sunyata]

At about 6:45 this morning, there was a tree down at the Ballston end of the Bluemont Connection trail. The trail was completely blocked, but you can take the desire path off the the right around it.

Other than that, minimal storm litter on the trails from East Falls Church to Ballston via W&OD and the Bluemont Connection.

[Erin Potter]

Four Mile Run Trail Detour tomorrow (10/18)
From my email:

“A trail detour will be in place tomorrow, October 18, from 5:00am to 4:00pm. The South Four Mile trail will be closed between W Glebe Rd and S Meade St.”

I would greatly appreciate hearing reports back from anyone who rides this stretch during this time. Photos would be great, too.

[dbb]

Conditions this morning on the trail across the bridge on Ohio Drive (just before Maine) were a bit fishy.

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[Emm]

@Erin Potter 181972 wrote:

Four Mile Run Trail Detour tomorrow (10/18)
From my email:

“A trail detour will be in place tomorrow, October 18, from 5:00am to 4:00pm. The South Four Mile trail will be closed between W Glebe Rd and S Meade St.”

I would greatly appreciate hearing reports back from anyone who rides this stretch during this time. Photos would be great, too.

As of 7:30 AM the sidewalk was closed, but the trail was fully open.

[PeteD]

When I rode thru at 7:20am, I was able to ride on the 4MRT from Shirlington to Eads, where I turned left to head towards WTFCC.

Have video if you’re truly interested.

[Steve O]

@Erin Potter 181972 wrote:

Four Mile Run Trail Detour tomorrow (10/18)
From my email:

“A trail detour will be in place tomorrow, October 18, from 5:00am to 4:00pm. The South Four Mile trail will be closed between W Glebe Rd and S Meade St.”

I would greatly appreciate hearing reports back from anyone who rides this stretch during this time. Photos would be great, too.

I rode westbound about 1:30pm and was detoured just past Eads towards Glebe. There was no second detour sign directing me what to do, so I got on the south-side sidewalk until I encountered a construction crew who had placed a cone in the middle of the sidewalk warning of a small piece of plywood with nails sticking out of it on top of a hose or wire or something (they helpfully pointed the nails out to me, thank you very much). They allowed me to continue on the sidewalk.
I continued on the sidewalk until I couldn’t anymore, because there was more construction tape and stuff in the way. At the time I came through I was able to hoist my bike over the tape and walk to the point where the trail curves down to go behind the apartments. I then rode to the point where the trail comes up from under 395. I was behind a Detour sign here, so evidently I was on a closed section of trail.
I went around the sign and took this photo:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]18484[/ATTACH]

The sign is pointing across the grass towards Glebe Road. Totally unclear and rather confusing.
Looking around I noticed another sign that had been blown down 180 degrees and 70 yards from here at the intersection of Glebe and Glebe. I went over and stood it back up. Evidently the sign in the photograph is supposed to direct one to that intersection where one can cross to the north side of Glebe. It fails to do that.
I do not know if there is good signage for eastbounders once they cross Glebe.

[CaseyKane50]

@Steve O 181993 wrote:

I rode westbound about 1:30pm and was detoured just past Eads towards Glebe. There was no second detour sign directing me what to do, so I got on the south-side sidewalk until I encountered a construction crew who had placed a cone in the middle of the sidewalk warning of a small piece of plywood with nails sticking out of it on top of a hose or wire or something (they helpfully pointed the nails out to me, thank you very much). They allowed me to continue on the sidewalk.
I continued on the sidewalk until I couldn’t anymore, because there was more construction tape and stuff in the way. At the time I came through I was able to hoist my bike over the tape and walk to the point where the trail curves down to go behind the apartments. I then rode to the point where the trail comes up from under 395. I was behind a Detour sign here, so evidently I was on a closed section of trail.
I went around the sign and took this photo:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]18484[/ATTACH]

The sign is pointing across the grass towards Glebe Road. Totally unclear and rather confusing.
Looking around I noticed another sign that had been blown down 180 degrees and 70 yards from here at the intersection of Glebe and Glebe. I went over and stood it back up. Evidently the sign in the photograph is supposed to direct one to that intersection where one can cross to the north side of Glebe. It fails to do that.
I do not know if there is good signage for eastbounders once they cross Glebe.

I rode through eastbound around 10:30 am picking up the trail at the South Glebe and West Glebe intersection. The first detour sign I encountered pointed towards the sidewalk, so I cut across the grass to the sidewalk.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]18486[/ATTACH]

I proceeded to ride along the sidewalk when I encountered this charming obstruction
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Carefully riding over this obstruction I made it to where the sidewalk and trail join. There I noticed a sign placed for westbound users that said the “sidewalk was closed”.

Thinking I had gotten past the detour, I continued riding east along the trail. Next, I found the trail blocked at South Lang Street

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Not much to see from the back, but for westbound users, they saw this

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I diverted from my ride to see where this detour led and watched a mother and child waiting to cross Glebe to get to the detour.

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I was unimpressed by this detour and the efforts of the contractor to provide a safe route pedestrians and bike riders.

[Author]

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