Memorial Bridge lane closures will be "permanent" through 2021

[ChristoB50]

While the bridge overhaul is putting a hitch in regular commutes, we can entertain ourselves with a virtual tour of the inside of the bridge

Thanks for sharing! Fascinating to look at all that!

[ChristoB50]

My commute doesn't cross the river -- but I've biked over Memorial Bridge on most weekends since the construction / traffic changes started; fortunately the bridge sidewalks haven't been chaotic then. (And wow -- I'm not brave enough to imagine biking in the car lanes there during rush hour!)

I think if I did need to regularly cross the Potomac, and my targeted or direct route made Memorial Bridge the ideal crossing point -- I'd just trade the hassle of the bridge construction zone (and that murder crosswalk) entirely, for some extra minutes and the roughly what, 2.3 mile detour? to go down Ohio Dr, cross 14th Street Bridge (now that the trail is reopened / freshly paved!) and onto Mt. Vernon Trail.

I'd likely chose that over Roosevelt Bridge, speaking for myself, even though TRB route detour could likely be a little shorter? The TRB does feel too narrow for comfort with any other users sharing it, not to mention the nightmare images that pop into mind, of tipping over the low railing into traffic... The 14th St. detour just feels far less stressful overall to me, and worth the stray miles.

(That said, I've also not biked my commute, or at all yet, below 28 degrees -- I could see where soon, I'd loathe the idea of adding even 2.2 miles if I didn't have to

[Starduster]

While the bridge overhaul is putting a hitch in regular commutes, we can entertain ourselves with a virtual tour of the inside of the bridge

Way cool! Thank you, for all of us who never knew or had forgotten that this is/was an artfully disguised drawbridge. The detours/delays/dangers suck, true, but there was no longer any choice- the drawspan structure was rusted out beyond repair. Here is a link to how they are replacing the drawspan while still keeping the bridge open: https://www.nps.gov/gwmp/learn/manag...bilitation.htm

And we will keep pressing to make the bike commute as safe as we can.

[Brendan von Buckingham]

Reverse!

Memorial Bridge flipped construction around from the south side to the north side. I was able to ride inbound on the south side of the bridge today. Smooth sailing. It was nice to cross without going over two or three temporary wooded bridges or hop raised seams.

[Starduster]

Today's Coffeeneuring trip was a mission to ride and document the freshly finished south side of Memorial Bridge. The wait was worth it in that we get the safer south side trail connections back.



The only thing that tells you that you're crossing the former artfully disguised drawspan is that the original metal railing and facing is maintained and restored. A smooth trip by bike.

[Starduster]

To verify that this *was* a Coffeeneuring journey:

[Dewey]

Since November 2 the South Side Memorial Bridge sidewalk has been closed to pedestrians/cyclists who can take the North sidewalk. This morning was the first time I've ridden on the reconstructed North sidewalk and agree with Brendan's post from 1 year ago it is a greatly improved surface.

[Judd]

Update from a call I had with NPS last week was that they’re on schedule and on budget. Work is almost finished.


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[Dewey]

The workmen have scraped the road surface around Memorial Circle. There is temporarily a 3" drop entering and exiting the crosswalk on the North side of Memorial Circle at the West end and no crosswalk markings in the roadway. Hopefully this will be resurfaced and striped quickly.

[Judd]

Just got word that the Memorial Circle changes have been completed. Has anyone gone through yet? What do you think?


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