Southwest Waterfront redevelopment, Water St. to be closed

[Steve]

Just some info, especially for the risk averse crowd…..The sidewalk on the West side of Maine (closest to Water St) avenue between 9th and 7th is surprisingly wide, smooth, and easy to ride. It’s not very crowded with peds either, at least not in my experience. So for me heading south, riding Water to 9th, down the sidewalk to 7th, and then back on Water until it ends has actually been fairly simple and easy. Just a little info if you want to avoid riding on Maine.

[lordofthemark]

okay, so I rode the bike home on Friday (it was still at work, we were out of town most of the week). Took Eye street lanes west to 4th St SW (Eye is usually mellow, but some of the folks driving home from the game were not very polite – maybe cause of the Nats’ season?) Eye to G, then G west. G street is good, but I forgot that G is one way just before Banneker, and had to take the sidewalk to avoid salmoning. I was not fond of the whole approach to Banneker Park, or the ramp up to the Case bridge, though the view was nice. I went right on Buckeye around the Mason Memorial.

On the way to Tour de Fat, I decided to use the extra time I don’t have on commute days to ride the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail. Unfortunately a section of the Maine Ave sidewalk is closed right by the fish market, so I had to ride through the market, on Water, and then on the Maine Ave sidewalk. I should have stayed on P Street like the riders ahead of me in the butterfly costumes, but I went south next to Ft McNair instead. So, I get it, the ART is a line on the map only for now. Interesting place, if not the best pavement. Finally came back up to Potomac Ave near S Cap and into SE. The way back I did Eye Street lanes and took the sidewalk on the southwest side of Maine. Ended up walking the bike through the very crowded fish market.

[Brendan von Buckingham]

Another outbound option I tried worked for me, but might not be for everyone.

Northbound on Maine using right traffic lane. Pass under 395 and continue straight where Maine turns into 12th Street. Continue to Independence (you cannot swap C or D streets for Independence) then use left turn lane to turn left. Cross 14th and use left lane/green arrow to turn left on Wallenberg. Wallenberg to Ohio and the approach to the bike trail over the Potomac.

It’s a little round about, but more predictable than threading through the ever changing conditions on the Water Street sidewalk and Fish Market. Traffic on Maine going under 395 is usually jammed in the evening with stop and go cars in the middle and left lane; almost no through cars in the right lane. Both left turns at Independence and Wallenberg provide left turn only lanes with green arrow signal. Coming down Wallenberg, you can stop at the high point and time the light at Maine and carry that speed through Ohio.

[Mikey]

@Brendan von Buckingham 87632 wrote:

Another outbound option I tried worked for me, but might not be for everyone.

Northbound on Maine using right traffic lane. Pass under 395 and continue straight where Maine turns into 12th Street. Continue to Independence (you cannot swap C or D streets for Independence) then use left turn lane to turn left. Cross 14th and use left lane/green arrow to turn left on Wallenberg. Wallenberg to Ohio and the approach to the bike trail over the Potomac.

It’s a little round about, but more predictable than threading through the ever changing conditions on the Water Street sidewalk and Fish Market. Traffic on Maine going under 395 is usually jammed in the evening with stop and go cars in the middle and left lane; almost no through cars in the right lane. Both left turns at Independence and Wallenberg provide left turn only lanes with green arrow signal. Coming down Wallenberg, you can stop at the high point and time the light at Maine and carry that speed through Ohio.

Translation: Wallenberg = 15th Street

[lordofthemark]

Note: All of Water Street is now history, even the part that was still open from 9th street to the entrance to the Fish Market. There is a new entrance to the fish market from Maine, and looking down from the Case Bridge it appears to have a traffic signal and a marked crosswalk, so for those who do not like to take the lane on Maine Avenue, or to use the Case Bridge, apparently the option is open to cross Maine there and use the new wide sidewalk next to the Fish Market.

[Starduster]

Aha. I was about to post a thread about Maine Ave SW. I deal with it every day taking my wife to/from Ft. McNair. It’s horrible enough in a car. What *is* the best way to traverse it by bike? I am mindful that a rider on this forum went down on that pavement last year, riding to a Nats game. It’s become far worse since then, minefield of potholes included. (On my bucket list this year- Nationals Park by bike.)

[lordofthemark]

Back before the construction water street my route was sudewalk from 14th to the fish market, through the market to Water, then left on 7th to the Eye street bike lane. Last few months, with Water street only going to 9th, I took the sidewalk on the north side of Maine between 7th and 9th( I rode on Maine once I am not fast enough or bold enough to feel comfortable doing so regularly) Now it appears my route will change again. (I don’t like the Banneker park/Case bridge route)

[lordofthemark]

1. yes, the crossing at Maine and the Fish Market entrance IS controlled by a signal.
2. The sidewalk on the Northeast side of Maine, west of 9th Street, is not a good place to ride. Aside from being a standard narrow sidewalk, there are street lamp posts in the middle of the sidewalk – only other places I ride regularly with such bad lamp post placement is the east side of King Street between Park Center and 30th.
I am sorely tempted to try the Case Bridge route inbound (I have only taken it outbound) or, to just take the lane on Maine Avenue. I do hope that when the Wharf project is done, the new biking facilities will be a big improvement.

[PotomacCyclist]

One of the people who helped to spur the Wharf redevelopment proposal was real estate and development consultant Elinor Bacon, Kevin Bacon’s sister.

http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/top-shelf/2015/01/carr-readies-the-wharf-intercontinental-an-urban.html

Their father was an architect and a city planner in Philadelphia. So if you ride along Maine Ave., you could consider yourself just two (or three?) degrees of separation away from Kevin Bacon.

[ShawnoftheDread]

I’m already two degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon.

[lordofthemark]

@PotomacCyclist 111762 wrote:

One of the people who helped to spur the Wharf redevelopment proposal was real estate and development consultant Elinor Bacon, Kevin Bacon’s sister.

http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/top-shelf/2015/01/carr-readies-the-wharf-intercontinental-an-urban.html

Their father was an architect and a city planner in Philadelphia. So if you ride along Maine Ave., you could consider yourself just two (or three?) degrees of separation away from Kevin Bacon.

When I lived in Baltimore I knew Larry Reich who was the retired director of planning for that city, who thus likely knew Kevin Bacon’s dad, which means…

[dinfos01]

Thanks for the update. This SW waterfront project has really negatively impacted what used to be a nice stress free portion of what was until recently my regular bike commute down Water St (i ride from south of Alexandria to Navy Yard area). The last time I rode to work was Feb. 4, my longest hiatus since 2012. I’ve been looking for a better route to avoid this mess, the Case Bridge appears to be about the only option. I agree, I hope once finished this is a nice route again (and that the bike friendly portion of it is completed ahead of planned completion date. I’m not optimistic).

[PotomacCyclist]

A recent article put the completion date for the first phase of The Wharf at sometime in 2017. I don’t recall what they mean by the first phase, whether that means the new Wharf Street will or won’t be completed until all phases of the project are done. I’ll look it up later.

[rcannon100]

It means by 2017 they will have kicked the FCC out of SW, away from the waterfront (seriously)

[lordofthemark]

@PotomacCyclist 112266 wrote:

A recent article put the completion date for the first phase of The Wharf at sometime in 2017. I don’t recall what they mean by the first phase, whether that means the new Wharf Street will or won’t be completed until all phases of the project are done. I’ll look it up later.

I am pretty sure first phase means the first condo building will open. I have no idea when the new/rebuilt transportation infra will open.

[Author]

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