The Virginia Department of Transportation will host a meeting on June 12 to learn about and give input on alternatives identified by a study assessing safety and operational improvements at the I-395 Shirlington interchange (Exit 6).
More importantly hey will also discuss the intersection of South Shirlington Road and South Arlington Mill Drive, where the Four Mile Run Trail crosses Shirlington; and the intersection of Gunston and Martha Custis, where the ramp is that leads to the ped/bike bridge over I-395.
The project seems primarily or exclusively concerned with improving the oval there (by slowing down traffic, and trimming, widening and realigning lanes) so I'm not sure if any of this will have anything to do with biking, but there is room for improvement in these areas, and the wider study area as well.
At Gunston, it would be great to see that sidewalk improved. In fact, get ride of the sidewalk and rebuild it at the desire line. Then use the sidewalk space to build a bicycle path (the storm drain will be difficult to remove, but a bike path could start at street level and rise up above the drain. It would need to be wide enough for two way traffic. I'd also get rid of that curve at Gunston so as to slow cars making that turn down.
As someone noted in the comments, the base of the bridge would be a great place for a wayfinding sign. Same person asked for a crosswalk across Gunston at the base of the bridge. I agree with the idea, not sure about the safety. And several have asked for a tunnel under Shirlington at Four Mile Run (which I think is part of a plan elsewhere).
Not part of those areas, but I'd love to see a little trail connection between the Four Mile Run underpass and the CubeSmart parking lot. Not because I think a lot of people will bike to the CubeSmart, but because that creates a shorter connection to Shirlington Road going north (or coming south going the other way).
Residents are invited to stop by Drew Model Elementary School, 3500 23rd Street South, Arlington, VA 22206 between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. to view displays and learn more about the study. A presentation will begin at 7:30 p.m. VDOT staff will be on hand to answer questions.
Give comments at the meeting, or e-mail or mail them by June 24, 2019 to Ms. Olivia Daniszewski, EIT, Virginia Department of Transportation, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030.
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