Wharf to Douglass Bridge & the Riverfront Mess

[creadinger]

This thread can be the spin-off for those of us who ride Maine Ave (which is combat) all the way to, and across the Douglass Bridge.

Due to all of the construction down that way led by the new Douglass Bridge, the area is turning into a complete mess. Starting at 4th St south of M Street, the road was recently torn up for utility work and the repaving made the driving lanes pretty nice, but the bike lanes are now in bad shape and covered in debris. North of Fort McNair is ok, but 2nd St SW down to Audi Field has recently been spray painted with all sorts of markings indicating that it will soon be torn up. Someone even took the time to grind off some of the bike markings in the protected bike lanes along here. And the Douglass Bridge, which had narrow walkways on both sides now only has the south side open making for a really tight turn on the east side of the Anacostia for anyone heading north.

The first span of the new bridge is a long way from complete and the mess will likely only get worse before it gets better. I’m questioning already whether it’s worth taking 11th St bridge and dealing with the annoying and much slower route through Navy Yard or the neighborhood north of Navy Yard. That’s less of an option for riders going to JBAB or CGH though.

For anyone who rides through here, I appreciate your comments and insights for how to make it suck less…

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