Let’s try this again: The long-anticipated pedestrian bridge over Wiehle Avenue in Reston is now officially open to Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail users.
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn had previously announced that the 147-foot-long, 16-foot-wide bridge would open on July 9, but the launch got delayed due to pending final inspections.
As proof that the bridge is actually accessible, Alcorn posted a video on Twitter of the first cyclists to freely cross the span yesterday (Wednesday).
“The Wiehle Avenue bridge is now OPEN! Benjamin, Zack, Darius and Ari were the first to official cross over on bike and scooter this afternoon, after checking daily for the last three days,” he tweeted.
The Wiehle Avenue bridge is now OPEN! 🚴🛴🎉 Benjamin, Zack, Darius and Ari were the first to official cross over on bike and scooter this afternoon, after checking daily for the last three days.@BikeFairfax @NOVA_Parks @WODTrail pic.twitter.com/LBwt2QUI9S
— Supervisor Walter Alcorn (@WalterAlcornFFX) July 24, 2024
In the works since 2008, the new overpass stands 18 feet above Wiehle Avenue, allowing pedestrians and cyclists to cross the busy roadway without having to contend with traffic.
Though the bridge has opened, the W&OD Trail is now closed on the west side from the connection down to Wiehle Avenue to allow road improvements and the construction of a new 10-foot-wide shared-use path, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) said in a press release.
Eastbound trail users will be redirected to the newly constructed bridge. Signage is in place to guide both pedestrians and cyclists.
Costing an estimated $12 million, the bridge project required adjustments to the roadway, sidewalks, and medians at the crossing. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved the final bridge design in 2018, with construction beginning in March 2023.
During the ongoing construction, which will widen Wiehle Avenue near the bridge and install walkways on both sides of the road, some sections of the trail near the bridge will be temporarily closed, but the bridge will remain accessible.
