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An update on the Southgate/Columbia Pike detour: Today, I got a response via email from Public Affairs at ANC. It is copied below:

Good Evening Mr. Fuchs,

I’m writing to address concerns you shared via our call center on Feb. 15 tied to our Southern Expansion project.

As part of the DAR construction project, constant maintenance of all the existing temporary traffic control devices is applied across the entire site. Sweeper and water-spray trucks are deployed on a regular basis, as part of site maintenance of the roadways. In addition to the constant maintenance, FHWA and ANC have been performing site investigations during the day and night hours.

In partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Arlington County Government (ACG), ANC appreciates the opportunity to provide you with the below updates:

1. FHWA has been refreshing the existing pavement markings, that have been worn down or deteriorated. Doing so will increase their visibility to roadway users especially during night hours.

2. Striping patterns at sharp curves and the signalized intersection will be undergoing modifications, to match the current/temporary traffic operations and improve delineation of travel lanes. This effort includes the removal of striping patterns that are no longer being used present at the signalized intersection of South Joyce Street, VA-244 Columbia Pike, and Southgate Road.

3. We also acknowledge the opportunity for enhancing the existing signage. FHWA will be installing new signage and replacing older signs that have been damaged or have decreased retro-reflectivity. Vehicles driving at night with their headlights on will benefit from the signage’s retro-reflectivity.

4. Existing signage and construction barrels have been removed and rearranged, to not obstruct sidewalks.

5. In order to enhance clarity of work zone delineations to the public, additional devices (e.g. orange construction drums or pavement markings) will be added.

6. On the north side of Southgate Road, adjoining VA-244 Columbia Pike, an asphalt path was installed to join their two existing sidewalks. While this may cause a momentary inconvenience for some sidewalk users, this was done primarily to assist mobility-challenged pedestrians traverse this segment.

7. The proposal to add streetlighting during dark hours is currently undergoing further evaluation. While it is still a consideration, we must plan and balance the needs of the local residents, environmental code, and noise ordinances. As mentioned above, additional signage and refreshed pavement markings will increase visibility during the night in the interim until this particular evaluation has been completed.

8. Enabling pedestrians to cross VA-244 Columbia Pike, within the vicinity of South Nash Street and South Oak Street, is currently undergoing further evaluation with ACG and their adjacent project(s).

9. The existing mid-block on Southgate Road, across the temporary driveway of the Air Force Memorial, is undergoing further evaluation for potential enhancement.

We appreciate the continued patience and understanding the public has shown as temporary inconveniences are inherent to large and complex construction sites.

Again, we appreciate the time and effort you took to share your concerns with us. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Best,

Kerry L. Meeker
Chief of Public Affairs
Arlington National Cemetery
1 Memorial Ave.
Arlington, VA 22211
☎ Office: (703) 614-0062
☎ Cell: (703) 963-9747
☎ Public Affairs Media Line (703) 614-0024
✉ kerry.l.meeker.civ@army.mil

Visit us at:
http://www.facebook.com/arlingtonnatl
http://www.flickr.com/photos/arlingtonnatl
http://www.instagram.com/arlingtonnatl
http://www.twitter.com/arlingtonnatl
http://www.youtube.com/arlingtonnatl

A response is a start. Now we can continue the conversation with them. (y)

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@Lt. Dan 224727 wrote:

Yeah reading about how they want to get rid of the lake, It seems like one decision or the other is a little shortsighted…

I should now ask a question unthought of until now- This is a manmade lake created with a dam, which was not intended to provide hydroelectric power. Why was this lake (along with Lake Barcroft or Lake Anne, the birthplace of Reston) created? Flood control, or a developer’s dream of a lakeside community?

[Starduster]

@ South Eads & Four Mile Run:

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We await the needed marking and ramp improvements so we may ride safely. Have patience, they said. Doctors have patients. I’m not a Doctor.

I looked carefully, there are *no* street lights south of the intersection with S. Glebe. Incidental light from the substation will not be enough. I run a high performance lighting system on the Trek. Not everyone has that, or can afford such.

I will at least close with some good news. The West Glebe Rd. bridge is nearing completion.
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[Starduster]

We have family and Family of Choice in Phoenix metro and Tucson. Sonoran Valley, Arizona. Weather was officially reversed today. We hit 80, they had 50’s. So I thought, I should go for a bike ride. Coffeeneuring stop and pet food stop, then to the river.

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The willows are budding. This is *early*.

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Good news- the Crystal City Connector, new version, is complete. Easy climb in my 38 x 24 gear.

On to the substation boardwalk.
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Oh. Bugger.

So off to S. Glebe. Problem- way too much road furniture in the way.
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Continuez…

[Starduster]

@CaseyKane50 224610 wrote:

It’s not just e-bike riders[emoji3] Signs are on the climb up Beverly Drive from Russell Road in Alexandria.

This is not that other rider lazing and leaning on his electric motor. The above is different, and I don’t mind it. Next best thing to having Didi the Devil cheering you on as you climb!

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@CaseyKane50 224590 wrote:

Rode by this morning, they have not made any fixes to the ramp.

Noted and logged. I am going to check on it tomorrow. Arlington County knows. This is now on the construction company.

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@CaseyKane50 224509 wrote:

Yep, we were a bit premature in thinking the bridge was open. The barrier wasn’t there on Saturday. Definitely there today.

Casey: How was the ramp at the end of S. Eads?

[Starduster]

We hereby proclaim.

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@Jan Johnson 224400 wrote:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]30348[/ATTACH] It appears to be coming right along.

Is there more official information on this project? I went looking at Fairfax County’s Lake Accotink Park’s website and found little beyond an announcement.

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@Steve O 224250 wrote:

In addition to some sort of visual way to warn riders, a better solution would be to create an actual ramp, making the entire width of that section usable and eliminating the pinchpoint/head-on conflict.

Steve O: Very true. I did not think about that until well after I submitted the request. I hope one of my pictures suggested it for me. [ATTACH=CONFIG]30308[/ATTACH]

[Starduster]

@dbb 224093 wrote:

The Arlington Cemetery Southern Expansion will ultimately use the land where the Navy Annex (between Columbia Pike and Southgate and the AF Memorial and Oak) as well as the Navy Annex parking between Columbia Pike and I-395 for additional burial space and maintenance areas. The area between Columbia Pike and I-395 will be a maintenance facility and will connect with the Cemetery via a tunnel under Columbia Pike.

The roadwork is being done by the Federal Highway Administration for the Cemetery. When the roadwork is complete, Southgate will be gone, Columbia Pike will be shifted to connect with Joyce much closer to I-395 and the cloverleaf of Washington Blvd and Columbia Pike will be reconfigured. At that point, the Corps of Engineers will manage the construction on the new Cemetery property.

While it would seem that the FHWA would be leading the coordination with the public about the construction, the Arlington National Cemetery Public Affairs office has assumed that responsibility. I’m not sure why they thought that was a good idea but that was their call. To that end, I’m sure the ANC Public Affairs staff would love to hear how their project is affecting the community.

While there does not seem to be a ANC Public Affairs email box that I could find, their Twitter address is @ArlingtonNatl and Facebook at ArlingtonNatl. There is an outside chance their email is anc.web@mail.mil but I’m not sure.

All that said, I’m sure they would welcome any comments you might have about their construction project.

Attached is a presentation I did at one of the neighboring civic associations last week.[ATTACH]30239[/ATTACH]

I found a “submit feedback” form on the ANC website, addressed it under the Safety/Security drop down, and squeezed the critical safety concerns and importance of this route into 1000 characters. Let’s see how responsive they will be.

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@CaseyKane50 224197 wrote:

The new path has been opened. Still lots of construction going on around the path, including removing the old path. I think the sight lines are much better as you approach the tunnel

Sightlines better, and the grade is less sharp and more consistent. All I could ask for. Good news indeed.

[Starduster]

Update on S. Eads & Four Mile Run- Petitioning your government for redress of grievances…works. A positive response from Arlington County:

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@DanB 219954 wrote:

Here’s an update on the Lake Accotink trail work. The picture was taken Sep. 1.
Looks like crews have been busy removing the trail surface, fair weather crossing and culverts. It’s hard to see clearly what work is being done.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

It looks like they are also taming that sharp grade on the far side.

[Starduster]

Over on the February 2023 Trail Conditions thread, I posted heavily about the substandard and unsafe state of the Columbia Pike-Arlington National Cemetery bicycle detour. I didn’t think of posting here, because this is hardly “good news”. Multiple postings (because of image upload limitations) and many pictures, that I hereby allow anyone to use to petition the federal powers that control this project.

#dbb: Henry Dunbar informs me that you are busy raising hell with the powers that be about this detour. I offer you this additional documentation, over 3 postings: http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?21069-Feb-2023-Road-and-Trail-Conditions

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