Woodrow Wilson Bridge Trail Opened
The Woodrow Wilson Bridge Trail recently opened on the northern bridge span of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge providing a much-anticipated connection between Alexandria and Prince George’s County. In Maryland, the trail links to the Potomac Waterfront Community Park, National Harbor, the Potomac Heritage Trail and Bolling Air Force Base. In Virginia, it feeds into the Washington Street deck, which, in turn, connects to Mount Vernon, Alexandria-Arlington-DC, the Washington and Old Dominion Trail and the trail to U.S. Route 1.
The trail is a comfortable 12 feet wide (enclosed by side fences) and 1.1 mile long. It includes informational signs about local history and ecology and landscaping on each shore giving it the feel of a linear park. There are also three overlooks on the span with additional signage, mounted binoculars/telescopes, benches , and northern views of Alexandria and Washington D.C.
On the Virginia side, the trail begins at the Washington Street deck which essentially a large overpass, that the Beltway travels under, with park like features. Additional trails to US 1 and the Mount Vernon Trail are adjacent. Embedded compass-like wayfinders provide riders/walkers with guidance to these points.
Note that Construction on Maryland’s deckover and the path to National Harbor will continue through September but will not impede cyclist or pedestrian use of the facility.
Another trail is scheduled to open in Summer 2010, which will connect the east side of Telegraph Road at Huntington Avenue with Eisenhower Avenue and the Holmes Run Trail.
