Posted on 03/25/2021 11:43:14 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
The anticipated opening of the Washington & Old Dominion trail bridge over Route 29 along the City of Falls Church and Arlington’s border is finally here, letting pedestrians and cyclists alike breathe a sigh of relief.
A ribbon was cut for the bridge on Friday, signaling the completion of one major part of the Dual Trails project that is being started in Falls Church and eventually expanded to other sections of the W&OD, according to NOVA Parks executive director Paul Gilbert, the agency that primarily manages the trail.
But more importantly, the bridge’s construction removes one of the 45-mile trail’s harrowing road crossings that lies at the intersection of Route 29 (Lee Highway) and the exit ramp from eastbound Interstate 66, allowing for safer passage for the 1,500 – 2,000 users it sees each day.
It’s been a running theme for NOVA Parks to find these sketchier spots along the path and build either a bridge or an underpass to accommodate cyclists and pedestrians. Gilbert said that started with the Citizens Bridge over Route 7 in the City of Falls Church back in the early 90s, but has really picked up in the past decade to address areas such as the underpass at the Route 7 and Route 9 junction just west of Leesburg and another one running underneath Belmont Ridge Road in Ashburn.
Future sites that have been targeted include a bridge over Wiehle Avenue in Reston and one going over Sterling Boulevard in Sterling.
“We have 70 cross streets on the W&OD…and we’re trying to prioritize the busiest and most challenging roadways and have great separation. So either the road goes over the trail or the trail goes over the road,” Gilbert said.
(Excerpt) Read more at fcnp.com ...
PING!
Thanks for this random thread. Used to love riding that trail when I lived there in the early 90’s.
That is among the worst crossings along the trail.
The wait at Rte. 123 takes forever.
More trails, so they can spend billions more on replacement Washington Metro lines.
Growing up in “The Gulch” during the 1950’s and 1960’s we kids kept our bicycles on the side streets or on the sidewalks.
Seems like it was in another century.
Growing up in “The Gulch” during the 1950’s and 1960’s we kids kept our bicycles on the side streets or on the sidewalks.
Seems like it was in another century.
Growing up in “The Gulch” during the 1950’s and 1960’s we kids kept our bicycles on the side streets or on the sidewalks.
Seems like it was in another century.
“It’s been a running theme for NOVA Parks to find these sketchier spots along the path”
Lol, every crossing is sketchy. Cars in one lane stopping for bikes when they shouldn’t and the cars in other lane(s) don’t stop. Bikes running the trail stop signs and disregarding the cars’ right-of-way. Crazy!
Errrr. What did you say? Would you mind repeating that?
Seems like it was in another century.
It was. The 20th Century. :-)
I always rode from route 28 to Purceville
or Vienna to Mt Vernon never did the whole thing
Never all on the same day but I did do the entire trail — that is, the entire trail in 1992. I think it was about 45 miles total. I suppose they have added to it since then.
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