In September, the nonprofit Building Bridges Across the River (BBAR), presented new renderings of the 11th Street Bridge Park, which show some changes to the project, This new design was presented to the National Capital Planning Commission for approval in November.
It will be possible, perhaps, for one to bike across the park, but it will probably be frustrating because of the design and pedestrians. I suspect cyclists will be happier on the existing bridge and NCPC says the same.
The revised design concept further promotes pedestrian and bicycle access, as both will be essential in ensuring a successful park. From the north side, pedestrians will access the bridge where it lands adjacent to the Navy Yard and existing 11th Street Bridge. On the south side, the bridge connects to the adjacent grade, and paths and ramps allow access down to Anacostia Drive, Good Hope Road and Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. Thru-bicycle access will primarily be along the existing 11th Street Bridge, although a shared bicycle/pedestrian path will allow direct access to the bridge programming. Connections will allow both bicycles and pedestrians to cross over from the existing bridge to the park bridge.
Because the park will be on the same side of the bridge as the bike/ped path, it will change the view off the bridge. Instead of the river, users will get a view of the park. And the crows nest overlooks will be gone too. The Anacostia Riverwalk Trail will pass beneath it on both sides, and connect to it. The image above shows how the east bank trail passes beneath it as does the connection to the bridge. It also shows a hot air balloon, but whatever.
This image on the east side shows people walking in the street, probably because the hot air balloon landing pad blocks the trail.
And here's a new view from the west side.
One of the NCPC requests to the BBAR is that they "further coordinate with the National Park Service on any proposed features within Anacostia Park and specifically the pedestrian and bicycle connections from the bridge to the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail."
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