Construction will close East Abingdon Drive north of Slaters Lane starting Monday as part of a long-awaited project to widen the Mount Vernon Trail, the City of Alexandria announced.
The work is scheduled to begin Aug. 18, weather permitting, and continue through early October. Construction crews will work Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
During construction hours, East Abingdon Drive will be completely closed between Slaters Lane and the George Washington Parkway. Drivers seeking to access the northbound parkway lanes will need to make a right turn from westbound Slaters Lane. Outside of construction hours, one lane on East Abingdon Drive will remain open to traffic.
The sidewalk and Mount Vernon Trail access point north of Slaters Lane will be closed for the project’s duration. The city is encouraging pedestrians and cyclists to use the Mount Vernon Trail to bypass the area and avoid detours.
A WMATA bus stop will be temporarily moved to the south side of the East Abingdon Drive and Slaters Lane intersection. Parking will be prohibited on Slaters Lane adjacent to 615 Slaters Lane during the construction period.
The project will widen the Mount Vernon Trail from approximately 4.5 feet to 10 feet along East Abingdon Drive, north of Slaters Lane. The current trail width makes it difficult for users to pass each other comfortably, according to city documents.
The work was identified as a top 10 priority in the city’s Transportation Master Plan and is funded through a federal grant administered by the Virginia Department of Transportation. The National Park Service’s Mount Vernon Trail Corridor Study also recommended widening the trail where feasible.
The city is simultaneously working on the separate East Abingdon Drive Bike Lanes project, which aims to fill a 600-foot gap where pedestrians and cyclists currently share a 4-foot-wide sidewalk or travel in traffic. That project would create a two-way bicycle lane connecting the Mount Vernon Trail segments.
Both projects support the Alexandria Mobility Plan’s strategy to create a safe, well-maintained, and comfortable bicycling network. More information about the Mount Vernon Trail Improvements at East Abingdon Drive project is available on the city’s website.
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.
