Detours on the W&OD Trail at Route 29 (Lee Highway) began almost a month ago to make way for construction of the trail bridge there. Additionally, the Custis Trail will be detoured where it passes under I-66 near Bon Air Park in Arlington due to I-66 widening construction above the trail. The Custis detour should start this week. Both detours are expected to last until fall of 2020.
The W&OD is closed between Little Falls Street andLee Highway (near mile marker 5.5) and for a short portion on the east side of Lee Highway. Cyclists are detoured to the south on Little Falls Street, where they are to turn left on West Jefferson Street to reach Lee Highway and then turn left on Lee Highway to the signalized crosswalk. Most of Jefferson Street does not have a sidewalk. On the east side of Lee Highway, trail users have been shifted to nearby Fairfax Drive for about 200 feet. This portion of Fairfax Drive is closed to vehicle traffic.
Custis Trail users will be detoured to cross over I-66 using an existing pedestrian bridge about 750 feet east of the underpass. The bridge can also be accessed from N. Fairfax Drive near Kensington Street. This is to make room for I-66 widening, so at least the inconvenience is for something we can all love. As part of the construction, the Custis Trail alignment will be shifted slightly south, improving visibility and safety for trail users.
Above is the landscaping plan for the new bridge
Speaking of Lee Highway, Arlington County is performing a Planning Study on Lee Highway to develop a comprehensive vision and policy framework for the area through County Board adoption of a County plan. Some of the goals are to "Improve walkways and overall pedestrian and bicycle connectivity and safety throughout" and "Embrace streetscapes as an important element of public space." It's still relatively early as the plan won't be finished until 2021. But there will be lots of meetings and opportunities to comment. Getting in early is better if you want to make an impact.
Here is another detour option, the current detour looks very cumbersome and I have seen confused cyclists and even on riding Rt 29
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29851477
Posted by: Peter | May 07, 2019 at 07:47 AM
Peter is exactly right: most folks should use Van Buren - Columbia - Little Falls.
Unless you want to take a lane on Lee or ride on the sidewalk, it's the way to go. Columbia also has the benefit of a light at Lee.
Posted by: huskerdont | May 07, 2019 at 08:18 AM