Upcoming Four Mile Run Trail closures

[Emm]

@vern 86687 wrote:

Does anyone know if the trail has, in fact, reopened?

As of 7:50 am today, it was still closed…And it was also closed throughout the weekend.

[dbb]

The project manager with Pulte (they are paying for the bridge demo) says “It should be completed within the next week or two barring weather. The last date I had was for the trail to open by June 6th.”

That explains the fact it was closed this morning.

[vern]

Thanks. The detour signs were still up this morning so I didn’t bother to look and instead, just headed up Eads (but only one tour bus parked this morning!).

[KayakCyndi]

@vern 86691 wrote:

Thanks. The detour signs were still up this morning so I didn’t bother to look and instead, just headed up Eads (but only one tour bus parked this morning!).

I was just commenting to Shawnofthedread on the way in today that I’ll likely never know when they open the trail again as I’ve gotten so accustomed to riding straight up Eads!

[PotomacCyclist]

They hadn’t finished tearing down the tall concrete wall on the north bank of Four Mile Run yet, as of yesterday. The center section was gone but there are two sections on either end of the former bridge that remain. I don’t think the remaining demolition should take that long. There is also the cleanup of the remaining debris.

I’m guessing that they will have to remove a lot of soil too. The retaining wall is no longer intact so they will have to create a gradual slope from the trail up to the Eclipse area. Then maybe they will stabilize it with rolled mats of sod.

If they plan to reopen the trail next month, they probably won’t work on the planned park immediately. That is supposed to include a permanent connection from the top of the slope to the trail, possibly a long diagonal path that doesn’t involve sharp turns like the temporary connector does. But if they have the equipment in place and the slope is already modified, why not go ahead and create that path this summer? Maybe the final design hasn’t been created yet?

[chris_s]

@PotomacCyclist 86700 wrote:

If they plan to reopen the trail next month, they probably won’t work on the planned park immediately. That is supposed to include a permanent connection from the top of the slope to the trail, possibly a long diagonal path that doesn’t involve sharp turns like the temporary connector does. But if they have the equipment in place and the slope is already modified, why not go ahead and create that path this summer? Maybe the final design hasn’t been created yet?

The permanent connection is Arlington’s responsibility, not this developer (Pulte). I’ve been meaning to inquire as to the status of that design work.

[CaseyKane50]

Here are some photos taken this morning of the progress.

Looking north. The trail is underneath the concrete rubble.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]5752[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5753[/ATTACH]

Looking south.
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[dbb]

The work progresses on the bridge demo. The trail is still covered in rubble.

The removal does open the place up.

While the demo has been a PITA for cyclists, it appears the area will improve a great deal.

[KWL]

They should open the gates. I could ride through that.

[cyclingfool]

kwl;87163 wrote:

they should open the gates. I could ride through that.

[attach=config]5805[/attach] :d

[CaseyKane50]

The path has come out from the rubble.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5843[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5844[/ATTACH]

[KWL]

Looks like I’m going to need more sunscreen.

[PotomacCyclist]

@CaseyKane50 87807 wrote:

The path has come out from the rubble.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5843[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5844[/ATTACH]

And now the path is covered again, in

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5954[/ATTACH]

[mstone]

@PotomacCyclist 88390 wrote:

And now the path is covered again, in

[ATTACH=CONFIG]5954[/ATTACH]

trouble?

[dbb]

Indeed

The end does seem to be in sight

[Author]

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