July 2020 Road and Trail Conditions

[Henry]

On Arlington’s Four Mile Run Trail, esp. through Barcroft Park, has lots of storm debris, Use Caution. Many fords/bridges in lower stream bed still have water running over at 8am.

Henry

[DrP]

Adding to Henry’s report:
I biked the Arlington Loop this morning – Custis to MVT to 4MRT/W&OD. There is a lot of debris around, the worst under Glebe on 4MRT, but a lot of mud under George Mason Dr on Custis and Wilson Blvd on W&OD. There is a very low tree/branch on MVT South of the rail road bridge at the north end of the Gravely Point; I walked under it, I think a recumbent bike did too, there is a lot of mud off the trail for those going that way. Most of the fords on 4MRT are flooded (this was between 7:45am and 8am, so later in the day they will likely clear, but might be muddy/debris filled. No major standing water.
The new path by the new apartments on 4MRT on Glebe between MT Vernon Ave and S Meade St was covered in clumps of the wood mulch they put in. That clearly was not a good idea.

[Dewey]

Roosevelt bridge side path is getting narrower, eek! The short straight before/after the path curves down to Roosevelt Island is currently half blocked by encroaching tree/poison ivy/kudzu/greenery. To whom should I report the problem and ask to chop back the vegetation, DDOT? NPS?

[Henry]

Per the sticky at the top of this Forum Topic:

Here’s a quick contact info reference for the National Park Service if you have any questions concerning the Mount Vernon Trail/G.W. Parkway:

Phone: 703-419-6400 (Division of Maintenance) 703-289-2500 (Visitor Information line)

Web: http://www.nps.gov/gwmp/index.htm

Email: GWMP_Superintendent@nps.gov

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NPSGWMP

Twitter: http://twitter.com/NPSGWMP

[huskerdont]

@Dewey 201819 wrote:

Roosevelt bridge side path is getting narrower, eek! The short straight before/after the path curves down to Roosevelt Island is currently half blocked by encroaching tree/poison ivy/kudzu/greenery. To whom should I report the problem and ask to chop back the vegetation, DDOT? NPS?

I did this through 311 last year (I think; maybe the year before?) when one of the trees kind of fell over the path, leaving a tunnel with poison ivy at the end. They came out and cleared it eventually.

[dasgeh]

@Henry 201821 wrote:

Per the sticky at the top of this Forum Topic:

Here’s a quick contact info reference for the National Park Service if you have any questions concerning the Mount Vernon Trail/G.W. Parkway:

Phone: 703-419-6400 (Division of Maintenance) 703-289-2500 (Visitor Information line)

Web: http://www.nps.gov/gwmp/index.htm

Email: GWMP_Superintendent@nps.gov

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NPSGWMP

Twitter: http://twitter.com/NPSGWMP

Emailing the superintendent is the best way. That’s how last year’s tunnel was cleared (sorry husker)

[Fairlington124]

Saw this on foot; the section of the Holmes Run Trail in Alexandria under the railroad bridge (near Eisenhower Ave) was loaded up with sand and sediment following the rains earlier this week. A small kid wiped out on his bike, fortunately it was at slow speeds, and the sand was thick!

[CaseyKane50]

@Fairlington124 201830 wrote:

Saw this on foot; the section of the Holmes Run Trail in Alexandria under the railroad bridge (near Eisenhower Ave) was loaded up with sand and sediment following the rains earlier this week. A small kid wiped out on his bike, fortunately it was at slow speeds, and the sand was thick!

That was reported to the city yesterday.

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Before the city cleaned it up.

When I rode through this morning around 10, it had been cleaned up.

[peterw_diy]

@CaseyKane50 201831 wrote:

That was reported to the city yesterday.
…
When I rode through this morning around 10, it had been cleaned up.

Has there been any talk about building some protection there? IMO the City has done better the last couple years about keeping this troublesome section clear, but it seems to be an idea place for either a wall to reduce sediment flow over the trail or replacing that segment with a bridge under the RR bridge.

[CaseyKane50]

@peterw_diy 201843 wrote:

Has there been any talk about building some protection there? IMO the City has done better the last couple years about keeping this troublesome section clear, but it seems to be an idea place for either a wall to reduce sediment flow over the trail or replacing that segment with a bridge under the RR bridge.

I have not heard of any plans for redoing this section of the trail. Of course, that doesn’t mean that various city departments haven’t had internal discussions about it. There is also the issue of repairing the more than $6 million dollars worth of flood damage upstream from this location that still needs to be addressed.

The city has been responsive in cleaning this section of the trail after flooding and sometimes gets it cleaned up before a work ticket gets submitted.

[JustinW]

Four Mile Run Trail where it passes under one of the Glebes (W. Glebe, specifically) to the east of 395 is a bit of pond after last night’s downpour. I bet the drain(s) are clogged; there previously was a lot of debris in that area in recent days. A personal flotation device may be advised. Or blow through the pond going fast and get a free shower.

[DrP]

Beware of falling limbs/trees

Tree down across Custis between N Nelson and N Monroe (by the ponds). Can go around on grassy area. I reported it to the County.

At about 9:20am Sunday morning a tree fell on 4MRT a little south/east of the Carlin Springs Rd. underpass and parking lot. It might be gone now, but I do not know. I reported it this morning, just in case no one else did. This was a tree that looked healthy. There was no wind to speak of. It was hot. There was a loud crack then a boom, some other sounds and a second boom as it took out several other trees. No one was hurt, but a pedestrian was freaked out as she had just passed under the tree, heard the cracking, turned around and watched it come down. One can go down and around it, but watch for poison ivy (unless one takes the more well used desire path) and there is a lot of sand, so riding through it tough to impossible. I have heard of summer (or sudden) limb drop, but not summer tree drop, but this looked the other cases of summer limb drop.

This morning I saw several other tree limbs on the ground on my morning ride, often streets and yards. I think this weather is having a big affect on the trees. Keep an ear open when cycling to listen for the telltale crack of a tree limb to avoid these.

[rcannon100]

Chain Bridge Road Access Blocked this Week. It’s not clear yet whether pedestrian access to Chain Bridge will also be blocked (Maybe Henry could ask DES?)

UPDATE from DES “The pedestrian and cyclist portions of the bridge ought to remain open, barring any unexpected developments during the project.”

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[bentbike33]

Trammel Rd. in the Merrifield-Annandale area had several downed trees and power lines this morning. I expect repairs will take the better part of the day.

[Dewey]

Wet ride home tonight, tree down on the Rock Creek trail by the Kennedy Center under Roosevelt bridge, and another tree is down on the path around the East side of Arlington Cemetery by the bike counter (hope it’s alright). You can walk around them.

[Author]

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