A nearly 3-mile stretch of the Washington & Old Dominion Trail has been out of commission this week, but pedestrians and bicyclists should be able to return soon.
Dominion Energy closed the trail from Mill Street NE in Vienna to Sandburg Street in Dunn Loring on Monday, Nov. 11 as part of its ongoing project to replace electric power lines between the Clark and Idylwood substations.
Expected to last through Friday, Nov. 15, the closure has required trail users to take a 4.8-mile detour through mostly residential neighborhoods on Cottage Street in Vienna. Signs directing travelers have been posted along the detour route, which was approved by the Virginia Department of Transportation.
“We are replacing wires, a process known as reconductoring, on an existing 230[-kilovolt] electric transmission line,” Dominion Energy spokesperson Aisha Khan said. “This work is necessary to maintain electric reliability for our customers.”
According to Dominion, the closed portion of the trail is being patrolled by law enforcement. Khan noted that the end date for the closure is “subject to change,” depending on the weather and other “unforseen circumstances” that could affect work on the power line.
Dominion began work on the transmission line replacement in July, but other than the sight of cleared brush to make room for construction staging areas, the project hasn’t directly affected use of the popular W&OD Trail until now.
Additional impacts are possible in the spring, when trail users may be temporarily stopped for up to 15-minute intervals or limited to either the gravel or paved paths, according to a Nov. 5 notice from Dominion’s project team.
The letter was sent to state and local legislators, Fairfax County staff, Vienna’s mayor and town manager, NOVA Parks and residents who live within a mile of the trail, Khan says.
The current work constitutes the first phase of the project, focusing on a 2.8-mile segment from the Clark substation at 375 Center Street near Caboose Tavern to Sandburg Street.
A second phase to address the remaining 1.1-mile segment of the transmission line from Gallows Road to the Idylwood substation at 7701 Shreve Road will necessitate another W&OD Trail closure and detour in summer 2025.
Also expected to last one to two weeks, that closure will require Dominion workers to cross I-66, I-495 and Metro’s train tracks near the Dunn Loring station.
“Customer electric service is not expected to be interrupted because of this project,” Khan said. “We are committed to working safely and courteously and will restore the area once work is complete.”
The utility anticipates finishing the overall project next summer.
