Possible detour tonight from sidewalk along East Basin Drive

[5555624]

Thanks for the heads up. On the way home, I take the street, but they’ve had the sidewalk and one lane blocked almost every day this week, when I’ve headed home (3:30 p.m. or so).

[Arlingtonrider]

Thanks for that info. The sidewalk was closed when I rolled through around 7 p.m., but both lanes of the road were open. I took the road for the part of the route where the sidewalk was blocked, and didn’t die. Fortunately, there isn’t much traffic that late! :p

[rcannon100]

I contacted NPS a few weeks ago about this. They assured me that they care about bikes (bike route blocked this morning during rush hour because they were putting down some cement)

BTW the POC is

Eliza Voigt, AICP
Planner
National Mall & Memorial Parks
900 Ohio Dr., SW
Washington DC 20024-2000
202-245-4694
Eliza_Voigt@nps.gov

[Arlingtonrider]

Thank you, rcannon100. It’s a lot worse coming into town than going home. Hopefully this won’t last too long!

[DaveK]

I only go that way on the way home, and I usually mix into traffic when I get to that point (coming from VA, past Jefferson, then join traffic on NB Ohio Drive at the marked crosswalk with the median cut-through). I thought the detour was well-marked and there were workers standing by watching to make sure it was working. My only issue was that the barricade immediately past the crosswalk landing obstructs sight distance when you’re trying to see vehicles coming from DC towards the highway.

[paytonc]

@DaveK 14622 wrote:

My only issue was that the barricade immediately past the crosswalk landing obstructs sight distance when you’re trying to see vehicles coming from DC towards the highway.

Yes, between the curve and the barricade there’s no way to see oncoming traffic without coming to a stop and gingerly sticking your head out. Plus, it seems like I only ever get there just when a phalanx of cars comes barreling around the bend…

On my long, long-term wish list for local trails would be some signs gently directing pedestrians down to the path by the water, leaving a little more room up above for bikes.

[dbb]

Info received from the NPS today. It appears the end is in sight. The sidewalk closure does present a tempting opportunity to boost one’s mileage by laps around Hains Point. Might get interesting if the cherry blossoms arrive before the barricades depart.

“Hi Dana,

The construction you are referring to is the result of electrical duct bank
work. We realize that this area is an important route for cyclists and
park visitors and that the construction is having an impact. The contractor
needs to have a portion of the sidewalk closed. They have placed all the
signs needed for this effort and re-routed the bikers and pedestrians
across the street. This is the only way for them to accomplish their task
since the hole they are digging is right at the approach to outlet bridge.
The plan is to re-open the sidewalk in March.

Hope this information is helpful.

Eliza Voigt, AICP
Planner
National Mall & Memorial Parks
Eliza_Voigt@nps.gov“

[dbb]

The NPS hit the mark! They said mid-March and they did it. Well done!

The sidewalk reopened sometime between last evening and this afternoon. This afternoon, the hole was replaced with tourists however.

[Arlingtonrider]

Yahoo!!!! I took to the road coming home tonight and I probably didn’t even need to.

No more bouncing over horrible bumpy pavement and around potholes while cars race by a foot away. I’ll really miss that NOT.

What i will miss is the nice older guy in the construction crew who recently started coming out in the mornings with a stop sign to help northbound cyclists get across the street where the sidewalk was blocked. I had become quite fond of him. My greetings progressed from “I love that you’re here” to “I love you more each day” or “i still love you” and each morning he would smile and call out that he loved me back. We sorta had a thing going on. Made each day a little brighter.

[dbb]

@Arlingtonrider 16425 wrote:

What i will miss is the nice older guy in the construction crew who recently started coming out in the mornings with a stop sign to help northbound cyclists get across the street where the sidewalk was blocked. I had become quite fond of him. My greetings progressed from “I love that you’re here” to “I love you more each day” or “i still love you” and each morning he would smile and call out that me that he loved me back. We sorta had a thing going. Made each day a little brighter.

I’m bummed! In the predawn hours I passed through that location, there was nobody there to share the love!

I will recover quickly as I feel the love from the reopened route.

[dbb]

They are back!

The duct work construction fencing reduces the sidewalk width dramatically.

I’ve sent a note to the NPS and will post the reply.

[TwoWheelsDC]

Ohio is down to one lane today, right at Basin. Construction crews also were stopping traffic when I went through, so expect cars to be extra aggressive through there. I got buzzed by a car right where the cones were closing the right hand lane, since he clearly did not want to be stuck behind a cyclist in the one available lane. Didn’t work out well for him when he had to stop anyway, with me directly behind him.

[dbb]

Got a reply from NPS. The trail was blocked much as it had been earlier in the spring.

Dana,

Thanks for your email. For safety reasons during construction, the sidewalk in this area should be closed with signs and barricades. The
sidewalk will remain closed through the duration of the work, which will be at least through Friday, June 29.

Hope this information helps,

Eliza Voigt, AICP
Planner
National Mall & Memorial Parks
900 Ohio Dr., SW
Washington DC 20024-2000

[Arlingtonrider]

Thanks for looking into that, Dana. When I went through yesterday morning, I saw that they had one of the workers there with a stop sign to help people across the road where the “blind spot” is, maybe in part as a result of your contact with NPS. That really helps when the equipment prevents you from seeing oncoming cars.

[sjclaeys]

What is the situation in the evening? Is Ohio Drive back to two lanes?

[Author]

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