New Bridge Between Del Ray and Alexandria is the DETOUR from HELL!
February 1st, 2008 Categories: Alexandria, Del Ray
The Monroe Street Bridge, a landmark on the U.S Route 1 corridor between Old Town Alexandria/Del Ray/Ronald Regan National Airport and Washington, D.C. has a new look and a new location. Once known for it’s ‘dog leg’ configuration, the bridge is being moved, straightened and updated.
U.S. Route 1 is a major north-south highway serving the entire east coast of the United States. It runs over 2,000 miles from Key West, FL north to Fort Kent, ME and was laid out in the 1920’s. In our area it is paralleled by Interstates 95 and 395 and after swinging past the Pentagon crosses the Potomac River on the 14th Street Bridge.
Traveling north on Rt. 1, motorists can no longer turn left onto Monroe Ave. but must cross over the bridge, turn left at Custis Ave. and then wind their way back through Del Ray (my neighborhood) to reach Mt. Vernon Ave. the major commercial thoroughfare for Del Ray.
I live one street over from Custis and each day I see at least 10 – 12 disoriented, anquished faces peering from behind a windshield as they try and find the next orange detour sign. I’m tempted to set up a Coldwell Banker information booth on the corner!
Traveling south is a bit better, but only just. The entrance to Monroe Ave. veers to the right but is not well marked or lighted and at night you are just as likely to find yourself crossing the bridge and then backtracking through yet another unsuspecting neighborhood. Talk about being an “Accidental Tourist.”!!!!!
When the bridge is finished this next summer it will have both north and south exits for Monroe Ave, four lanes of traffic, pedestrian walkways and wonderful, old-fashioned street lamps. But, until then, it is the DETOUR from HELL!
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Sorry to hear about your traffic nightmares! Nothing worse than construction on your major roads. I loved your idea about setting up an information booth, sounds like a great way to lead generate and pick up buyers. Good luck and keep up the great job blogging.
David
Michael – I feel your pain with all of this construction – several of our roads look the same!
[...] This is the final component of the Monroe Avenue Replacement project – otherwise known as the Detour from Hell. [...]