W&OD closure under Wilson

[dasgeh]

Hi all,

Giving this a thread so we can find it in the future.

On July 8, 2019, there was a freak rain storm that flooded parts of Arlington, including many of the streams, and damaged some infrastructure. Roads were damaged and repaired within a week (we’re trying to get cost info from the County).

The W&OD under Wilson was damaged, and was closed to through traffic. Many people just moved cones and kept walking/riding through. The official detour involved going to Wilson, jogging over to the light, then jogging back to the trail. Where the trail hits Wilson is an unmarked, legal crosswalk, so some folks did that. There were reports of drivers no yielding to people in the unmarked crosswalk and running the red when people using the crosswalk had the pedestrian light.

As of the August BAC meeting, County staff had neither a time nor cost estimate for repairs. The list of infrastructure that needed repair that DPR put on the internet did not include the W&OD trail. Staff said engineers were beginning to assess the damage.

At the September BAC meeting, County staff said they had a cost estimate for the repair: it would cost $140k, which would be taken immediately from trail maintenance funds (which hopefully could be replenished from other sources). They did not have estimates as to when the work would be done/completed.

Topic

[bentbike33]

@dasgeh 193048 wrote:

On July 8, 2019, there was a freak rain storm that flooded parts of Arlington, including many of the streams, and damaged some infrastructure.

Did the county apply for FEMA money?

[sjclaeys]

Thank you for posting this. In addition, there are a lot of missing guard barriers, such as at the Carlin Springs underpass, and other minor damage along the W&OD. Right now, they are replaced by strips of yellow plastic and maybe a cone, which hardly would keep someone from going off the W&OD and into Four Mile Run. While some time may be required to plan fixing the Wilson Blvd underpass and identifying the associated fees, it seems like the County is making no effort to repair the more minor damage which should require much time or money.

[Sunyata]

@bentbike33 193051 wrote:

Did the county apply for FEMA money?

Yes. But if approved, it could take months or even years to recoup the funds from them.

[mstone]

@Sunyata 193077 wrote:

Yes. But if approved, it could take months or even years to recoup the funds from them.

good thing the road repairs were free, then.

[dasgeh]

Just got word that the County has a contractor to repair the W&OD. They could start as early as Friday, September 13 (though it might be later), and should take “a couple weeks” (but might be longer).

[huskerdont]

Excellent. I know we sometimes feel like second-class citizens, but that’s not too bad, really. Kirby Road in Fairfax was washed out by the same flood and is still closed and will be for a while.

[ShawnoftheDread]

@dasgeh 193087 wrote:

They could start as early as Friday, September 13 (though it might be later), and should take “a couple weeks” (but might be longer).

Well now I won’t know when to stop ignoring the trail closed signs.

[dasgeh]

@ShawnoftheDread 193094 wrote:

Well now I won’t know when to stop ignoring the trail closed signs.

I’m fairly certain it will be obvious.

[Subby]

Went by there this morning, they have blocked it off with crime scene tape. I guess you could still worm your way through there, but it’s pretty obvious now.

Wilson crossing is a disaster waiting to happen.

[baiskeli]

@ShawnoftheDread 193094 wrote:

Well now I won’t know when to stop ignoring the trail closed signs.

This comment calls for bringing back the “Elite” button.

[CaseyKane50]

Looks like they were preparing to pour concrete this morning.

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[accordioneur]

The Boulevard Manor neighborhood is up in arms on NextDoor about trail users crossing Wilson Boulevard. See https://nextdoor.com/news_feed/?post=125450273 (requires login).

[josh]

@accordioneur 193483 wrote:

The Boulevard Manor neighborhood is up in arms on NextDoor about trail users crossing Wilson Boulevard. See https://nextdoor.com/news_feed/?post=125450273 (requires login).

That’s me! Can I get a synopsis?

[zsionakides]

@accordioneur 193483 wrote:

The Boulevard Manor neighborhood is up in arms on NextDoor about trail users crossing Wilson Boulevard. See https://nextdoor.com/news_feed/?post=125450273 (requires login).

This is a good endorsement for building an underpass that won’t wash away in a flood and putting traffic lights where users actually cross, instead of between a garden and some woods.

[accordioneur]

@josh 193487 wrote:

That’s me! Can I get a synopsis?

I’ve posted a PDF of the discussion (with last names removed) to https://www.dropbox.com/s/lo0jk863sxr4n5f/WODCommentary.pdf?dl=0

[Author]

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