Monday snow photos: Checking progress from Tenleytown to Van Ness

by Marlene Berlin

The Monday after the storm, my cupboards and fridge were looking a little bare, so I set off on foot to the Tenleytown Whole Foods.

I walked west on Brandywine Street at around 1:30 p.m. The street had been plowed early and consistently to blacktop all the way to Nebraska Avenue. Then I jogged over to Chesapeake on 38th Street, which had been plowed. Though Chesapeake was clear from 38th westward, it was still snowed under to the east. Though many residents had shoveled their sidewalks, I found walking in the street was easier because of the snow still piled at each intersection.

Brandywine and Connecticut

Wilson High School, which like other DC Public Schools is closed until Wednesday, was just beginning to clear its sidewalk.

Wilson workers clearing the sidewalk

Fort Drive behind Whole Foods was plowed out, and men were out tackling the sidewalk.

Unlike the Van Ness Giant and CVS, which remained open through the weekend, Whole Foods did not reopen until yesterday. The store didn’t have much fresh fruit and vegetables, but it very well stocked with meats and fish, and dairy.

The number one item on my list, however, was popcorn. My husband Jim had run out, and I generously offered to get him some. It’s not what most folks run out of during a snowstorm, but unlike bread, milk and toilet paper, stores don’t usually run out of it either.

After I left Whole Foods I walked north on Belt Road, which had one lane plowed. The Fort Reno hill had drawn several sled, toboggan, and saucer riders. Belt Road was also jammed, mostly with drivers who, it seemed, were hoping to join the fun and especially hoping find a parking spot.

Having fun on Fort Reno’s sledding hill

Belt Road traffic jam

I turned east onto Fessenden Street expecting a plowed street, but it was still under many inches of snow. Not until Nebraska did Fessenden show its blacktop.

Fessenden still dressed in snow

Fessenden was clear from Nebraska all the way to Linnean Avenue. While crossing Connecticut Avenue I noticed the sidewalks on both sides by Politics and Prose were in good shape. But a big pile of snow jutting out into a traffic lane at the corner of Fessenden and Connecticut made visibility for pedestrians and drivers poor, and crossing treacherous.

Pedestrians waiting to cross Connecticut couldn’t see drivers and they couldn’t see us because of this big snow pile.

Back in Forest Hills around 4 p.m., I found a lot of progress. Linnean Avenue had been plowed. Davenport Street was clear from Linnean to Broad Branch Road but not beyond. Other streets had at least one lane cleared to Connecticut, but Albemarle was the only street that had been cleared all the way to Wisconsin Avenue.

Continuing on to Van Ness, I found sidewalk conditions were pretty good, though in some places the cleared sidewalk area was quite narrow, especially in front of Burger King and Gold’s Gym. Calvert Woodley’s contractor had yet to clear their walk. They were working on getting someone else and hoped to have it cleared by the morning rush to the Metro station.

Calvert Woodley’s sidewalk late Monday afternoon

Bus stops along Connecticut did not have good access to the road. Let’s see if that improves before L2 and L1 service resumes. Connecticut Avenue is not on what WMATA deems a “severe” snow service route, and is doing without bus service for another day.

Do you get around by car, bike, transit or on foot? How are you finding road and sidewalk conditions?