Pentagon South?

[elbows]

Google is urging me to try a route south of the Pentagon. I frequently ride the path through LBJ and around the memorial side. I’m not unhappy with that route, but if there’s another route, I will throw it in – especially, if it takes me closer to butterflies, Pike buses, and/or Whole Foods.

When I tried google’s route, I abandoned it partially through the dirt path. Thought I would check here before going back.

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[LeprosyStudyGroup]

I haven’t ridden through there in a few months, but the path around the southeast side of the lagoon is not connected. Somebody throws wooden pallets every couple of years to act like a bridge over the worst marshy/ravine parts of the dirt track through the weeds, but that is not something most commuters are interested in riding through I’d wager.

You can ride through LBJ and around the pentagon via Boundary channel/ the connector road & parking lot there, and it’s fine, but the routing isn’t obvious getting around the metro bus station exit and you have to deal with the pentagon’s crossing guards, who are not happy campers.

[lordofthemark]

It seems like google maps has changed recently to (incorrectly) suggesting the route on the desire path/dirt track.

I was riding by the Pentagon on Saturday – I was using the weekend to explore some routes I seldom use – up Army Navy to 20th, then up Fern to the Pentagon. When I was about to make the left turn from Connector Road to Boundary Channel, I saw a rider off to the side staring, apparently in befuddlement, at his phone. I risked an “Are you okay?” “It says I should go here, but….” “Where do you want to go?” “DC” “Follow me” and I led the way through LBJ to the MVT at which point he said he knew where he was, and I left to continue my exploration.

Note, there IS a plan to pave the desire path, in connection with a larger project improving the connection from Long Bridge Drive to Boundary Channel. But that has yet to begin (not counting the new sidepath extensions on Long Bridge)

[ltierstein]

Fascinating. It really annoys ([euphemism]) me, having to take the long way around — path on the west side of the Pentagon, then through the marina — to get over the 14th St Bridge. I just played around with Google Maps. From my house in S Arlington, with a destination on Ohio Drive SW, that’s still the preferred route. However, if I switch the destination to the Jefferson Memorial, I get the non-existent path referred to in this thread. However, the walking route to the Jefferson Memorial stays the old way: Pentagon path-marina. Both of these are truly annoying if you consider that the car route to Ohio Drive SW is one mile shorter than the non-existent route and almost two miles shorter than the real one. Sometimes, (1) in desperation (2) in a hurry (3) early in the morning (4) some combination of the above, I have actually taken the car route — go up the exit ramp from the Connector Road in the Pentagon to the 14st St Bridge, get on the sidewalk (where it exists) and scurry across the entrance and exit ramps to highways. I don’t recommend it.

[dasgeh]

This is the project that, I believe, will include building the path. Email Jon Lawler to get an update on timing. He’s a nice guy.

https://projects.arlingtonva.us/projects/boundary-channel-drive-interchange/

[chris_s]

The most recent schedule I’ve seen:

NEPA Completion FY 2018-2019
Design FY 2019-2021
Notice to Proceed (Design-Build) FY 2020
Construction Completion FY 2022

The other important news since the website was updated is “The addition of a grade-separated trail crossing under the I-395 Southbound on and off ramp”

[Author]

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