Jan 2023 Road and Trail Conditions

[Starduster]

Still there this morning. yum.

Road Kill Cafe is now open. Allez cuisine!

[Starduster]

The following is a Columbia Pike travel update +:

Now that the old Navy Annex/AF Memorial potion of Columbia Pike is now closed for reconstruction, I decided to take a tour of the Southgate detour, to relay how "bike friendly" it truly is. And along the way, I decided, "Hell, let's document all the construction detours on my route!" So...

The West Glebe Rd. bridge rebuild, today's image. Coming together faster than I thought.

The Four Mile Run boardwalk section by the substation. Almost ready. Soon?

Crystal City Connector, by the water park. Not very ridable present, and the future.

Boundary Drive, by Long Bridge Aquatic.

Cont...

[Starduster]

*Now* to The Pike:

Up S. Joyce St. past the detour required to rebuild the Pike to this new intersection. The road is only 2 lanes wide here with barriers on all sides. You are honestly better on the sidewalk here, even though crosswalks at either end (the Pike, and Army-Navy Dr/S. 12th) are painfully *not* bike friendly.

For the moment, it appears that Columbia Pike traffic is being routed along the "Navy Annex side" of Southgate. Which leaves the cemetery side open for bike traffic, with only parked vehicles to deal with. That 2nd image however...is unacceptable. Just...NO.

The newly created S. Nash St. They have made this road detour 4 lanes wide as much as they can, for benefit of this major bus route. Note that you cannot get to there from the bike detour. So, unless you are very comfortable taking the lane here, I will recommend continuing to use S. Orme St, and...

[Starduster]

...to use the bike detour downhill, cross over to the left of the barrier (next to the street sweeper). All of this of course subject to change.

P.S. The software rotated my portrait mode photos on me. Boo hiss. (Who knows how to fix this?)

[Steve O]

...to use the bike detour downhill, cross over to the left of the barrier (next to the street sweeper). All of this of course subject to change.

The problem with this is that there is no curb cut. One must lift their bike onto the sidewalk. This is, of course, impossible for wheelchair users and extremely difficult for many heavier cargo- and e-bikes.

[CaseyKane50]

At the intersection of the Four Mile Run Trail and Eads, fencing has narrowed the access onto Eads.

[consularrider]

At the intersection of the Four Mile Run Trail and Eads, fencing has narrowed the access onto Eads.

At least the construction trailer wasn't parked there today further narrowing the space. I'm not sure what the delay is opening up the new detour. it looks like everything is done.

[Judd]

A little before and after of the ramp from the MVT to TR Bridge. Now bump free.

https://twitter.com/MtVernonFriends/...9IDv8RUDdqt6hQ

[Starduster]

At least the construction trailer wasn't parked there today further narrowing the space. I'm not sure what the delay is opening up the new detour. it looks like everything is done.

Today's images from S. Eads and the substation project:


According to Dominion Energy, this temporary boardwalk should be ready in February. https://www.dominionenergy.com/proje...projects/glebe


Look carefully at the 2nd image- The construction crews have claimed fully half of the street, and most of the driveway ramp. At this moment, it's actually safer for us that construction vehicles are narrowing the path where they are- this forces southbound traffic left, where the *only useable section of ramp* is. If we bear to the right...injurious mishap begging to happen.

Like any of the other construction detours I've highlighted, they are temporary. But we should not "settle for" *substandard & unsafe*.

[Starduster]

OK, different topic, also from today's ride:

The Doctors Run connector, from the intersection of S. 12th & S. Quincy, up and down through the woods where it connects to the illuminated school portion of this trail down to S. George Mason Drive. I believe this *is* a part of the 12th Street Bike Boulevard? Just two images to show that this section is badly degraded and breaking up, threatening to crumble down the hill.




Who do we petition for repair?