A couple of weeks ago, VDOT unveiled the final design for the W&OD Trail bridge over Lee Highway and the primary changes from the last design are they settled on the 3-girder design without the barrier with lights in the center, the coal trestle interpretive area has been moved at the request of NOVA Parks and the piers are different. You can see the 3-girder version, with the barrier in the middle, of the bridge below and the new one above. I kind of liked the barrier and the lighting looks better, but the new version might be safer.
The V-shaped Piers used to be "closed" but now they're open. I have no opinion on that. The new version is on top and the old one beneath.
The historical marker is now under the bridge instead of next to it, accessible by a separate path.
Work is planned to begin early next year and finish the bridge in Summer of 2020, with landscaping and the full project to be completed in 2021. During construction the trail will be realigned, sometimes detoured and a few times at night closed for 20 minutes. The realignment doesn't look too bad, though occasionally, when overhead work is underway, trail users will have to use 19th and Westmoreland before coming back up Lee on the sidewalk to the trail.
Where are the lights in the new design? In the 3-girder version they're (obviously) in the center, but in the new design I don't see sources for the lights and shadows.
Posted by: Steve | October 22, 2018 at 09:17 AM
I think they're built into the handrails on the sides.
Posted by: washcycle | October 22, 2018 at 11:54 AM
stupid. they might want to repave the trail for starters...
Posted by: MIke | October 26, 2018 at 12:25 PM