Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project: Jones Point Park, Virginia
Jones Point Park is owned by the National Park Service and leased to the City of Alexandria. The City is responsible for maintenance except in the fenced construction area. The National Park Service is starting an Environmental Assessment document for Jones Point Park.
Current Update
Mount Vernon Trail Update: 2007
Many enhancements will be made to the Mount Vernon Trail (MVT) in 2007, as the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project advances towards completion of the many new sections of the MVT. The implementation plan below will maintain the continuity of the MVT and provide through access to Jones Point Park (JPP). The following timeline describes the anticipated MVT enhancements.
2007 Timeline
April
Washington Street Deck-Over
The East Side and West Side pedestrian / bicycle connection on the Washington Street Urban Deck will be completed and open to the public by the end of April. The Washington Street Urban Deck will provide pedestrians / cyclists through access to northbound / southbound Washington Street.
June
Washington Street Deck-Over Pedestrian / Bicycle Ramps
The pedestrian / bicycle ramp to South Street will open prior to the closure of the Hunting Point Temporary Trail.
Hunting Point Temporary Trail
The temporary trail behind Hunting Towers is to be removed in early June to facilitate the construction of the tidal wetland mitigation site. Access from the MVT to Jones Point Park will be via the Washington Street Urban Deck pedestrian / bicycle ramp to South Street.
September
Jones Point Park "Connector Trail"
The Jones Point Park "Connector Trail" (connecting Union Street to the Lighthouse Trail) will re-open in late summer / early fall.
Royal Street / South Street Connection
This trail will be closed in early fall to facilitate the overhead construction of the inner loop bridge near the Virginia bridge abutment. During this time access to the MVT will be either the Washington Street Urban Deck or the Lighthouse Trail to the Connector Trail to Union Street.
Latest sign posted in Jones Point Park
The Project continues to work with the National Park Service to develop the alternatives for engineering and environmental evaluation in an Environmental Assessment regarding parking and access to Jones Point Park. At the current time there are four build alternatives under consideration. These alternatives can be found on the National Park Service (NPS) website.
Environmental Impact Statement:
(Final Supplemental EIS/Section 4(f) Evaluation completed June 2000)
Based on the Federal Highway Administration's Record of Decision (legal document under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)); the Jones Point Park mitigation/enhancement plan consists of park improvements, improvements along the shoreline, and historic preservation/interpretation:
Park improvements would include:
- improving the entrance drive to the park
- landscaping the entrance drive and the new bridge to soften the appearance of the structure, parking lot reconfiguration
- a park information site
- unpaved trails and othe amenities
Shoreline improvements would include:
- bulkhead extension under the new bridges and shoreline stabilization near the District of Columbia Cornerstone
Historic Site enhancements would include:
- interpretation at the historic shipways site (used in World War I) and historic markers for the Lighthouse and the District of Columbia Cornerstone
Annotated Final Supplemental EIS/Section 4(f) Evaluation Volume I
The Project's 2000 Record of Decision.
The future plan for the park was adopted by the Alexandria City Council in December 2000 after extensive community input. VDOT has made recommendations to the National Park Service for concepts for the access and parking. The City of Alexandria has developed a recommendation and provided to the National Park Service. Please contact Audrey Calhoun, at the National Park Service for more details.
2000 Record of Decision
Stakeholder Participation Panel (SPP):
The Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project developed four SPPs (MD Interchanges, Jones Point Park, US Route 1/Washington St. Area/Urban Deck, and Telegraph Road Interchange).
The purpose of the Jones Point Park (JPP) SPP, as well as the others, was to identify community characteristics, define community based goals and guidelines, and work with the designers to co-develop concepts and proposed design enhancements. Membership of the panel consisted of a balanced mix of nominated community members (environmental, bicycle/pedestrian, persons with disabilities, Friends of Jones Point Park, agency liaison (National Park Service) and appointees by local elected officials (Mayor of Alexandria and Fairfax Supervisor Hyland)). The issues of concern raised by the SPP members were park uses during and after construction. The JPP SPP worked with designers to provide input on high-level design of park use enhancements. Through the consensus building process the JPP SPP members and the design team recommended designs for specific park use elements.
Coordination Efforts:
The Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project has coordinated extensively with the community, agencies, City of Alexandria, and elected officials.
During the environmental impact statement process the Project had interfaced with the following groups/agencies:
- Department of Interior, National Park Service (NPS)
- Virginia Department of Historic Resources and Department of Conservation and Recreation Resources
- City of Alexandria Office of Archaeology, Office of Historic Alexandria, Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities
- Congressional Delegations/State Officials/ State Delegations
- Sierra Club, Virginia Chapter
- Friends of Jones Point
- Historic Alexandria Foundation
Efforts completed to date:
(The public has and will continue to have access to the Park during construction)
- Creation of an 80 space interim parking lot (for public use and City of Alexandria employees)
- Posted signage about the Project activities in Jones Point Park and revised on an as needed basis.
- A Threat Assessment was conducted for the Wilson Bridge Project by a Department of Defense contractor.
- Closure of South Royal Street (for security purposes) under the existing bridge.
- Restriction of parking (for security purposes) under the existing bridge.
- Improved pedestrian access to the public fishing pier within the park.
- Revised location of paved pedestrian access to southern part of the park for safety during construction.
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