Starting next month, weekday drivers and pedestrians like should plan for sporadic closures near the Shirlington Road bridge.
Kicking off in April and lasting through the summer, the sidewalk and westbound lane on S. Arlington Mill Drive will see intermittent closures on weekdays, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., due to the construction of a new $1.6 million pedestrian bridge.
The 15-foot-wide prefabricated steel bridge will run parallel to the main vehicular bridge, connecting Shirlington and S. Arlington Mill Drive to Jennie Dean Park and the Green Valley neighborhood. It will also serve local users of the heavily used Four Mile Run and W&OD trails nearby.
Construction on the Shirlington Road bridge concluded in the summer of 2022, and the pedestrian bridge began off-site construction last year. The new bridge is expected to be in place by the summer or early fall of this year, according to the county website.
For nearly two decades, county staff and the public have discussed the need for pedestrian enhancements along Shirlington Road.
The comprehensive project includes the pedestrian bridge and new street lighting at both bridge ends, improvements to medians and sidewalks, and crosswalk upgrades narby. A Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon will be installed in the road median for added pedestrian safety.
Much of the design was driven by public input after many residents shared safety concerns.
The count awarded the construction contract for the pedestrian bridge to D.C.-based Milani Construction last year the amount of $1.38 million, with an additional $277,000 set aside for any additional costs.