September 2015 Road and Trail Conditions

[dbb]

From the NPS

The project on the MVT is part of a major overhaul of the bridges that enter/exit the Airport. Concerning the MVT we construct a barrier wall/railing combination between the road and MVT at the narrowest portion. The wall will be similar to the one at Humpback bridge (stone wall with metal rail on top). It includes removing the old roadway entrance to the airport, realigning the MVT under the bridge on RT 233, so the trail is farther from the road, and a water fountain will be placed on the clear opening between the crosswalk and the Rt 233 bridge underpass. We will not close the trail, but until it is finish there will be detours some on mulched paths similar to other detours we had in MVT bridge replacement detours. Hope this helps.

Here is a site from FHWA where they update traffic information.

http://www.efl.fhwa.dot.gov/projects/traffic-gwmp-5001.aspx

[Kolohe]

Ok I was wondering with all the stakes up they were finally re-doing the path at the old on ramp. Looks like the case.

[bobco85]

@CaseyKane50 123077 wrote:

There is one more!

[IMG]http://bikearlingtonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=9468&stc=1[/IMG]

Continuing the discussion from August, on my errands ride from Potomac Yard this evening I noticed things had been moved for the worse:

[IMG]http://bikearlingtonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=9519&stc=1[/IMG]

Seeing as how I could not get through with my trailer, I made an executive decision and moved both barrels off the trail. (Note: the barrels suffered no damage other than perhaps emotional damage from being forcibly removed from the trail in view of their fellow barrels, quite an embarrassing sight)

I do not know if they were put there as a joke (my guess) or if someone in authority had the bright idea to put them there (did that cop from Falls Church move to Alexandria recently?).

[scoot]

But if you remove those cones, motorcycles can still fit through. Needs more bollards! :rolleyes:

[Starduster]

Took a long delayed and overdue ride on the Mt. Vernon Trail to Mt. Vernon yesterday. Of note- the caged section of the trail as it passes the old power plant. The mirror you need to see around the corner…fell off and is on the ground, useless to all. Another reason to go gently through there and “make up time” elsewhere.

[GovernorSilver]

@bobco85 123615 wrote:

Continuing the discussion from August, on my errands ride from Potomac Yard this evening I noticed things had been moved for the worse:

[IMG]http://bikearlingtonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=9519&stc=1[/IMG]

I neglected to report that as of last evening, both orange barrels were moved off to the side.

[bobco85]

I got a response to my Call.Click.Connect submission regarding the situation at Potomac Yard Trail and Braddock Road.

For context, this is the original submission I wrote:

I noticed there are 2 bollards painted black on the north side of the connection between Potomac Yard Trail and Braddock Road. Because they are not flexible, difficult to see, and placed in the middle of the trail, the bollards pose a risk to cyclists.

2 bollards are not needed here. A single flexpost on the Braddock Road side would suffice to deter vehicles and would be much safer. Also, the bollards, if kept, need to have reflective striping on them for better visibility at night.

Thank you.

Here is the response I received today:

Thank you for reaching out about these bollards. I have spoken to Parks about this matter. They believe the one closest to the roadway is necessary, but we are looking into remove the one that is away from the road on the trail. We need to have a contractor available to remove the bollard and immediately fill the hole, so we will work on scheduling with them. Please note that they are very busy and this might take a bit to schedule. As part of Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan update, we are recommending a strategy to improve safety at trail entrance/exit points. As part of this, we will look more comprehensively at trails around the city and determine where bollards are necessary and appropriate.

I replied with thanks for the consideration and requested that the remaining bollard have reflective striping added for better visibility. While it doesn’t appear that both bollards will be removed, at the very least one will be taken out.

[mstone]

A small victory for sanity!

[dasgeh]

@bobco85 123890 wrote:

I replied with thanks for the consideration and requested that the remaining bollard have reflective striping added for better visibility. While it doesn’t appear that both bollards will be removed, at the very least one will be taken out.

Thanks for your work on this. If you don’t mind writing back again, it might be helpful to remind them that many bike trailers and some bikes are more than 36″ wide. I can’t tell from the photo alone, but it looks like their bollard placement in conjunction with the walls makes it very difficult, if not impossible, for a wider bike or bike with trailer to get through. If they are going to go around the county installing more bollards (ugh), they should at least make sure the placement block access for families on bikes, and the bollards they use are easily visible (not black), even at night. They should keep in mind that cars using trails is actually pretty rare, but bikes hitting bollards happens pretty frequently.

Thanks again

[CaseyKane50]

A portion of the Holmes Run Trail just before Duke Strret will be closed for about 4 weeks beginning on September 14. The contractor has a well-marked detour in place through Ben Brenman Park and briefly on the sidewalk along Duke Street.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]9600[/ATTACH]

[PotomacCyclist]

@dbb 123249 wrote:

From the NPS

The project on the MVT is part of a major overhaul of the bridges that enter/exit the Airport. Concerning the MVT we construct a barrier wall/railing combination between the road and MVT at the narrowest portion. The wall will be similar to the one at Humpback bridge (stone wall with metal rail on top). It includes removing the old roadway entrance to the airport, realigning the MVT under the bridge on RT 233, so the trail is farther from the road, and a water fountain will be placed on the clear opening between the crosswalk and the Rt 233 bridge underpass. We will not close the trail, but until it is finish there will be detours some on mulched paths similar to other detours we had in MVT bridge replacement detours. Hope this helps.

Here is a site from FHWA where they update traffic information.

http://www.efl.fhwa.dot.gov/projects/traffic-gwmp-5001.aspx

Too bad they aren’t widening the trail too. They should widen the trail when they do these projects. Eventually they could widen most of the MVT, at least the section in Arlington, which is the busiest section.

[TwoWheelsDC]

Looks like cyclists should avoid the Powhatan Loop for a while:

Work is taking place at two separate sites on Williamsburg Boulevard: the first near North Sycamore Street; the second just east of North Harrison Street. Traffic impacts are as follows:

Southbound vehicular traffic on Williamsburg Boulevard at Sycamore Street will be impacted due to narrowing of the existing travel lane within the construction area. These impacts are expected to last 8 to 12 weeks.

https://www.arlnow.com/2015/09/14/traffic-delays-possible-on-williamsburg-blvd-due-to-water-main-construction/

[bobco85]

@CaseyKane50 124010 wrote:

A portion of the Holmes Run Trail just before Duke Strret will be closed for about 4 weeks beginning on September 14. The contractor has a well-marked detour in place through Ben Brenman Park and briefly on the sidewalk along Duke Street.

I agree the detour is well-marked. I think they did a really good job on the detour with great signage. Even though it’s not that great of a distance, the detour is well-laid out.

Pics of the detour:

map (trail closure in red, detour in blue) – note: Dear Google Maps, it will not take 15 minutes to bike this, fyi
[IMG]http://bikearlingtonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=9645&stc=1[/IMG]

south end of detour (the sign changed between “Bike Path Closed” and “Please Use Detour” while I was doing the pano, so the text looks messed up)
[IMG]http://bikearlingtonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=9641&stc=1[/IMG]

(top) plenty of signage in Ben Brenman Park; (bottom) turn onto Duke St sidewalk
[IMG]http://bikearlingtonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=9642&stc=1[/IMG]

signage and “coneage” on north side of detour directing users to Duke St sidewalk
[IMG]http://bikearlingtonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=9643&stc=1[/IMG]

[MLB]

@bobco85 124193 wrote:

I agree the detour is well-marked. I think they did a really good job on the detour with great signage. Even though it’s not that great of a distance, the detour is well-laid out.

Pics of the detour:

map (trail closure in red, detour in blue) – note: Dear Google Maps, it will not take 15 minutes to bike this, fyi
[IMG]http://bikearlingtonforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=9645&stc=1[/IMG]

That has to be one of the most well-marked that most detours I’ve ever seen, especially for a bike path.

An couple of alternate detours exist

1) Coming northbound on the Holmes Run Trail, continue along to the end of Holmes Run Parkway past all the detour signs, and cut through the back parking lot for the 4600 Duke condos, and then cross Duke Street at the traffic light that’s in front of the condo building and Harris Teeter. Then take a left on the sidewalk to rejoin the bike trail just beyond the Exxon station. The marked detour does have the advantage of no stops, but this route has no additional climbs.

2) Coming northbound, follow the detour as marked, but turn right instead of left at the bottom of the ramp at Duke Street. Take an immediate right into the Beatley Library parking lot and follow the driveway around to Pickett Street, and turn right. Straight ahead will be a bridge that takes you back over Holmes Run to the bike trail about 1/2 mile north of Duke Street. This will save you a little bit of time/distance if you are continuing up the Holmes Run Trail beyond the Latham Street sidepath.

[rcannon100]

Hains Point laps this weekend??? Probably nope. Music festival taking place. http://www.landmarkfestival.org/ #bikedc

[Author]

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