W&OD/495 bridge

[acc]

How did you guess there’s nothing I enjoy more than standing around in a bright orange sundress chatting with the construction guys?! I figured they seemed so friendly waving and saying, “Good morning” (I’m pretty sure that’s what they were saying) that I might as well talk to them and find out what they could tell me about the bridge.
:rolleyes:

ann

[eminva]

Okay, some of you have engineering or technical backgrounds while I have the total opposite, but wouldn’t the normal procedure be to put in the drainage pipes first and then the pavement??

I have a friend who lives near the bridge who told me a long time ago (if I’m remembering correctly) that the original plan was to divert the W&OD trail permanently to Idylwood and the bridge would not be replaced, so I guess this is a far better outcome, even if imperfect.

Liz

[DaveK]

@eminva 4708 wrote:

Okay, some of you have engineering or technical backgrounds while I have the total opposite, but wouldn’t the normal procedure be to put in the drainage pipes first and then the pavement??

Dollars to donuts the guys pouring the asphalt the guys laying the drainage piping never spoke to each other. And their foreman/contractor didn’t give a crap, they’ll just tear it up and replace it. Welcome to life in the field on construction projects…

[CCrew]

@eminva 4708 wrote:

Okay, some of you have engineering or technical backgrounds while I have the total opposite, but wouldn’t the normal procedure be to put in the drainage pipes first and then the pavement??

You’ll never make it in government either :p

[brendan]

When I rode that section a few times last week, my only concern was that while the netting/fencing blocking the westbound entrance to the old bridge was orange, the fencing blocking the eastbound entrance to the old bridge was black. Granted there were three orange barrels across the trail there suggesting one should not proceed past them…but the black fence itself is invisible at night…

Brendan

[consularrider]

It does have a fresh, bright an lovely yellow line down the middle of the trail to help you see. I’ll bet it’s not reflective though. Maybe a few reflective strips should be added to that black fence?

[CCrew]

I’m not getting the black fence. West side was barrels and orange fence and the east side was 6 tall’ portable silver anchor fence sections when I came through @3am this morning. I’ll grant however that I didn’t look yesterday, so it’s entirely possible it’s in a state of flux.

Looks like a drunk painted the yellow center line though

[Dirt]

@CCrew 4905 wrote:

Looks like a drunk painted the yellow center line though

I’m going to go on record saying that I had NOTHING to do with painting that center line. At least I don’t remember having anything to do with it. I guess anything’s possible.

[eminva]

Looks like they are starting to demo the old bridge (as of this a.m.).

Liz

[CCrew]

@consularrider 4900 wrote:

It does have a fresh, bright an lovely yellow line down the middle of the trail to help you see. I’ll bet it’s not reflective though. Maybe a few reflective strips should be added to that black fence?

BTW, that line is reflective. As are the barrels.

[consularrider]

I’ll have to try it sometime after dark if I can stay up that late (or get up that early).

[CCrew]

@consularrider 4945 wrote:

I’ll have to try it sometime after dark if I can stay up that late (or get up that early).

The barrels are actually painfully bright with 1000 lumens or so shining at them

[Mark Blacknell]

So here’s a photoset of the problems. Highlights:

Abrupt curve into new alignment. I’m *really* hoping this is temporary, and that there will be a more gentle bend (through the “Road Work Ahead” sign) in the final product:

Speed bumps for our added pleasure?

Another unnecessarily sharp bend:

And just a reminder about the amount of thought that’s put into the actual construction:

Seriously? That’s not a fallen branch. They actually put this “information” sign behind a bush. Well done!

I’ll be following up with VDOT to encourage them not to drop concrete walls/fenceposts into the path of the alignment this trail reconstruction should follow.

[CCrew]

@Mark Blacknell 4974 wrote:

Speed bumps for our added pleasure?

That’s my indicator that they’re not done and there’s another layer of asphalt planned. Or not.

Hey, still better than the ramp on the old bridge. The trail alignment though to me looks like a done deal and that whole dogleg stays.

[eminva]

Yeah, that “speedbump” is better than what we had on the old bridge, but I fear that if this is what it’s like when it’s new, then, as time takes its toll . . . not good.

I also think this is the intended alignment, or else they would have built up that slope on the right in your first picture more.

On a positive note, I like how nice and wide the new bridge is.

Thanks for raising these issues, Mark.

Liz

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