If you haven’t heard, a detour on the Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail started last Friday (April 19). The detour will send riders around the construction of the new trail bridge over Route 29 (Lee Highway) near the Arlington-Falls Church line. The detour is expected to be in place into the fall of 2020.
Cyclists approaching from Fairfax County/Falls Church will be detoured to the south on Little Falls Street, turn left on West Jefferson Street to reach Lee Highway, then turn left on Lee Highway to the signalized crosswalk. After crossing to the east side of Lee Highway, trail users will be shifted to nearby Fairfax Drive, which will be closed to vehicle traffic, for about 200 feet.
The new bridge, when finished, will provide trail users a safer crossing at this busy intersection. Upwards of 2,000 people use the trail in this area on peak days. FABB was active in 2017 and 2018 supporting the bridge with the Arlington County Board, which had final approval on the project. As hard as it is to believe, the project was controversial among a number of neighborhood residents who opposed the bridge over concerns about the bridge’s location, look, and its possible impact on development. The bridge is expected to open in fall 2020.
Further south, I-66 widening project construction will cause another detour to be set up for the Custis Trail. The detour starts in May where it passes under I-66 near Bon Air Park in Arlington. Check back soon for more details.
