Alexandria built a new bridge on the Holmes Run Trail and they're having a celebration for it on Thursday (after they postponed it from today).
The event has been rescheduled for Thursday, November 8, from 10 to 11 a.m. at HolmesRun Parkway and Ripley Street. Residents are invited to come out to celebrate the new bridge and receive free safety gear.
The old bridge was narrow, just above the water and had no railings so this is quite an improvement - for both the stream (which got some restoration work) and for trail users.
Also, in the near future, Alexandria plans to build 2000 feet of trail along the south side of Holmes Run from Ripley - where this bridge is - to Pickett. And there are also plans to improve the tunnels along the trail.
In the long run, a grade separated crossing of Beauregard would be nice and then looking at how to extend the trail west to connect to the section of the Holmes Run Trail west of Lake Barcroft and north along Tripps Run to Howard E. Herman Park, which is then a short hop from the W&OD Trail.
I live about 2 blocks from here and the new bridge has been unofficially open since mid-September. The new bridge is very welcome since the old crossing was prone to flooding during heavy rains making this impassible.
I'm also glad to hear that work is planned on the tunnels that run under N. Van Dorn St. and US I-395. Right now they are very run down and give off a slightly creepy vibe as if you're traveling thru a large haunted sewer pipe.
Posted by: Dan | November 06, 2018 at 02:16 PM
I also live near the new bridge, and was happy to see it completed. Hope it is true that they are at least going to strip old paint from the tunnel and re-paint. Unfortunately, there are still some spots going west toward Chatham street that can get covered with water, sand and mud in wet weather. There is a bridge at Chatham that connects the Alexandria trail to the Fairfax Co. trail - which is fairly new, and appreciated. But the Fairfax part of the trail to Columbia Pike has several fords - wet even in dry weather.
Posted by: John C Flack | November 07, 2018 at 02:17 PM
Oops - I said the street name wrong - it is Chambliss.
Posted by: John C Flack | November 07, 2018 at 02:19 PM