- Long-planned bridge will improve bicycle and pedestrian access near the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station.
FABB encourages local riders to attend the previously postponed groundbreaking ceremony for the W&OD Trail Bridge over Wiehle Avenue on Thursday, March 9, at 10:00 am. The event will be held in the parking lot of Reston Fire Station (25) with parking for attendees who drive available at the Reston North Park and Rid, 11300 Sunset Hill Road.
The new bridge, scheduled to be completed in Spring 2024, will replace an existing at-grade crossing and include a gravel path and asphalt trail. Currently, trail users at Wiehle Avenue must cross six lanes of traffic at an unsignalized crossing near a busy intersection, making it one of the most dangerous road crossings on the W&OD.
The new bridge will allow trail users to cross Wiehle without having to stop or rely on motorists to yield to them. Motorists also will benefit because they will no longer have to stop for trail users in an area with limited space to prevent vehicles from being backed into the Sunset Hills intersection.
FABB is advocating for the county to take additional steps to improve safety and utility by managing detours and trail use at night.
- Sidewalk and trail detours should be designed for safe, convenient 24/7 access for trail users.
- If trail users must cross Wiehle at the Sunset Hills intersection, the pedestrian signal timing should be extended
- Although the W&OD Trail is officially closed at 9:00 pm, many people still need to use it because few safe nighttime alternatives exist. Therefore, FABB proposes that trail closures should be limited to brief periods after 9:00 pm.
Please plan now to join us at the groundbreaking ceremony to show support for better bicycling infrastructure, better accessibility, and better safety in Fairfax County.
