East Abingdon Drive on the Mount Vernon Trail is set to shut down from Monday due to the ongoing widening project.
The city of Alexandria is set to commence a significant project aimed at improving the Mount Vernon Trail and East Abingdon Drive Bike Lanes, with construction scheduled to begin on August 18.
The project, led by the Northern Virginia Regional Parks Authority (NOVA Parks) and funded by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA), will see the Mount Vernon Trail widened from 4.5 feet to 10 feet along East Abingdon Drive, north of Slaters Lane. This expansion is a top 10 priority in the city's Transportation Master Plan and aligns with the Alexandria Mobility Plan's strategy to create a safe, well-maintained, and comfortable bicycling network.
Simultaneously, the city is working on the East Abingdon Drive Bike Lanes project, which aims to create a two-way bicycle lane connecting the Mount Vernon Trail segments. This project seeks to fill a 600-foot gap where pedestrians and cyclists currently share a 4-foot-wide sidewalk or travel in traffic.
Construction hours for both projects will be from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays. The construction is expected to last until early October, weather permitting. During construction hours, East Abingdon Drive will be completely closed between Slaters Lane and the George Washington Parkway.
To accommodate the construction, a WMATA bus stop will be temporarily moved to the south side of the East Abingdon Drive and Slaters Lane intersection. Drivers seeking to access the northbound parkway lanes will need to make a right turn from westbound Slaters Lane. Parking will be prohibited on Slaters Lane adjacent to 615 Slaters Lane during the construction period. The sidewalk and Mount Vernon Trail access point north of Slaters Lane will also be closed for the project's duration.
The National Park Service's Mount Vernon Trail Corridor Study also recommends widening the trail where feasible. Residents needing disability accommodations can contact Lydia Durand at [email protected] or 703-746-4622, Virginia Relay 711. Free interpretation and translation services are available by emailing [email protected] or calling 703-746-3960.
The city encourages pedestrians and cyclists to use the Mount Vernon Trail to bypass the area and avoid detours. For more information about the Mount Vernon Trail Improvements at East Abingdon Drive project, residents can visit the city's website.
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