Columbia Pike Bike Boulevards

Construction Update – Oct. 18, 2018

S. Walter Reed Drive at 12th Street South Intersection Improvements

This week, while constructing new curb and gutter at the intersection of S. Walter Reed Drive and 12th Street S., the contractor maintained single-lane closures along S. Walter Reed Drive during non-approved work hours (after 4 pm and before 9 am). With this construction activity, the resulting street width was not wide enough to accommodate two travel lanes in each direction. We apologize for the lack of advance notice on this unplanned lane closure and for the resulting traffic delays.

The lane closures are expected to continue through tomorrow (Oct. 19) as crews finish the curb and gutter along both sides of S. Walter Reed Drive. Starting Monday, Oct. 22, continuous single lane closures along S. Walter Reed Drive will be in effect for the next two weeks as crews construct the new street medians. Then, at 4 pm on Friday, Nov. 2, crews will once again start reopening all travel lanes on this section of Walter Reed Drive at the end of each work day.

We appreciate your patience as we work with the contractor to limit disruptions and complete this work as quickly as possible.

Location

Approximately 4.3 miles long, parallel to Columbia Pike along 9th Street South and 12th Street South

View Map

Status

Construction

Walter Reed Drive at 12th Street South Intersection Improvements

The construction contract for this project was awarded at the Feb. 24, 2018, County Board meeting. Construction began in July 2018 and is anticipated to be complete in late 2018.

The project will construct curb extensions, ADA curb ramps and enhanced crosswalks at the South Walter Reed Drive/12th Street South intersection in order to improve pedestrian safety and will re-construct the three raised medians along Walter Reed Drive (between 13th Street South and 11th Street South).

Also, the project will relocate the existing bike boulevard from 12th Street South to 11th Street South (between South Highland and South Cleveland Streets) which includes the addition of a contra-flow westbound bike lane along the one-way eastbound section of 11th Street South (between Walter Reed Drive and South Edgewood Street).

Presentation Exhibit. Final Construction Plan

What to expect during this work:

Project work hours will be 9 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday.
Construction crews will typically close one travel lane along Walter Reed Drive adjacent to the work area while maintaining one lane of traffic in each direction. All travel lanes will reopen at the end of each work day.
On-street parking will be temporarily restricted along Walter Reed Drive.
Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the project area via sidewalk detours and temporary crosswalks.
There are no planned bus stop temporary closures or relocations during construction.

About the Project

Due to limited space, traffic volume and transit operations, Columbia Pike cannot accommodate extensive biking facilities; therefore, convenient routes on parallel secondary streets are a safer, more practical alternative. Bike boulevards are:

Located on low-volume and low-speed streets (25 MPH)
Logical, direct and continuous routes
Marked with clear signage and street markings
Provide convenient access to desired destinations
Comfortable and safe crossings for bikers and pedestrians at intersections

The proposed projects should significantly improve pedestrian safety at four challenging intersections, including people walking to and from Randolph Elementary School, Patrick Henry Elementary School, Columbia Pike Library, Arlington Career Center, and Arlington Transit (ART) and Metrobus stops.

Note: The intersection at Ninth Street South and South Walter Reed Drive will not be included in this project, as noted in previous plans. This intersection will be improved as part of a separate project and will also install a traffic signal at this intersection.

Features of the bike boulevards include:

Enhanced on‐street route, some new street and trail links
Improvements to street alignment
New signage, pavement markings and crosswalks

Completed improvements:

Improvements to four intersections along 9th Street South (South Highland, South Cleveland, South Adams and South Wayne Streets) completed in January 2018 (photos in image gallery).
HAWK beacon at the intersection of South George Mason Drive and 13th Street South completed in November 2015.
Improvements to the intersection of South Quincy Street at 12th Street South completed in October 2014 (photos below).
Improvements to the intersection of South George Mason Drive at 13th Street completed in September 2014 (photos below).
Rectangular rapid flashing beacon (RFB) and crosswalk installed without turn restrictions at the South Glebe Road and 9th Street South intersection in May 2014.
Traffic analysis for the four proposed HAWK locations completed in April 2014.
Signs and pavement markings installed along 12th Street South and 9th Street South in September 2013.

: Photo of South Quincy Street intersection – Before improvements

: Photo of South Quincy Street intersection – After improvements

: Photo of South George Mason Drive intersection – Before improvements

: Photo of South George Mason Drive intersection – After improvements

Public Process

Initial community meetings were held with adjacent civic associations in summer 2012.

Additional community meetings were held in spring 2014 with the Bicycle Advisory Committee, Columbia Heights Executive Committee, and the Penrose, Alcova Heights, Arlington Heights, and Douglas Park civic associations.

In February 2018, staff performed pre-construction coordination for the South Walter Reed Drive/12th Street South project at meetings for the Bicycle Advisory Committee, Columbia Heights Civic Association and Douglas Park Civic Association.

In August 2018, staff gave an update on the 9th Street South bike boulevard project to the Arlington Heights Civic Association: View the presentation

Funding

The $1 million project is funded through local funds as part of the Columbia Pike Complete Streets Program.