For the first time since March 2022, Soapstone Valley Park is officially open. But if you’re used to entering at the Albemarle Street trailhead, you’ll need to find another way in.
Per DC Water: “We are excited to announce that we are re-opening majority of the Soapstone Valley trail.”
DC Water map of the open and closed segments of the Soapstone Valley Trail.
The map above shows the trail segment between Albemarle Street and Audubon Terrace remains closed due to upcoming sewer work that will require closing part of Albemarle between Connecticut Avenue and 30th Street for two months. The park’s other entry points – at Windom Place, Broad Branch Road, and the west and east ends of Audubon – are now open.
The trail’s closure over the past two and a half years hasn’t stopped people from entering the park.
ANC 3F Commissioner Mitchell Baer, who is also the Soapstone Trail supervisor for the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, is urging them to avoid the Albemarle segment for the remainder of the DC Water sewer project.
“Hikers REALLY have to avoid the still-closed stretch of trail from Albemarle to Audubon, especially when DC Water starts operations at Albemarle and 32nd,” Baer told Forest Hills Connection in an email. “In fact, once they start, the trailhead at Albemarle will be closed and fenced off.”
Here’s the full DC Water announcement, including with updates on the work that is keeping the Albemarle trailhead closed for several weeks more.
We are excited to announce that we are re-opening majority of the Soapstone Valley trail. The trailhead at 32nd and Albemarle St NW, and the western trailhead on Audubon Terrace NW will remain closed until further notice.
We are also entering the final phase of construction for the Soapstone Valley Project. This crucial stage of construction will require significant work in the area of 32nd and Albemarle Streets NW.
To facilitate this work, we will be implementing a long-term closure of Albemarle Street NW between Connecticut Avenue NW and 32nd Street NW. We understand the inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work to complete this essential project.
The final phase of the project will involve the following key activities:
- Demolition of the existing manhole: We will carefully remove the old manhole structure to prepare for the new installation.
- Relining of the existing sewer line: This involves inserting a durable liner into the existing pipe to improve its structural integrity and prevent leaks.
- Construction of a new manhole: We will build a modern, durable manhole to replace the old one.
Our team will continue providing regular updates on the project timeline and any potential impacts to the community. Please refer to the anticipated schedule below for upcoming construction activities.
- Week of August 12, 2024
- Continue tree and vegetation maintenance throughout the park
- Sitewide cleaning and removal of construction materials
- Week of August 19, 2024
- Installation of VMS Board along Connecticut Ave (Announcing upcoming Street Closure at Albemarle Street).
- Other Upcoming Events (once hard copy permit is secured)
- Begin site mobilization at 32nd and Albemarle St NW
- Closure of Albemarle St NW from Connecticut Ave NW to 32nd St NW. Detour signs will be posted to safely redirect pedestrians, motorists, and cyclists around the construction zone.
- Installation of sewer bypass system
- Installation of traffic control measures including posting of signage and safety fence installation
- Begin manhole demolition at 32nd and Albemarle St NW
- Continue tree and vegetation maintenance throughout the park
- Continue manhole demolition at 32nd and Albemarle St NW
- Maintain Albemarle St NW detour
- Continue tree and vegetation maintenance throughout the park
- Residents should expect the following:
- A long-term closure of Albemarle St NW between Connecticut Ave NW and 32nd St NW
- Closure of the southside sidewalk along Albemarle St NW
- Noise from equipment in operation. Here is a list of equipment to be used
- Milling Machine
- Dump Trucks
- Service Trucks & support tools/equipment
We extend our thanks to the community for their patience and understanding during the completion of this critical infrastructure project and park beautification.
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Paul says
Will there be detour signs at Linnean and 30th, and Brandywine at 30th? More generally, what are the planned “official” detour routes?
Shaun says
As of yesterday, Monday, August 19, there was a downed tree across the trail (maybe near 29th St NW? I didn’t think to check Maps). It’s an awkward height, as it’s a difficult crouch to get underneath, but it’s also too tall for most people to clamber over. Any idea of who to contact to get that taken care of? WIth the project still technically ongoing, I’m not sure if a request should go to NPS or DC Water.
FHC says
Thanks for your comment. We asked ANC 3F’s Mitchell Baer, who is also the Soapstone supervisor for the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club. The tree he thinks you are talking about has been there a while, and the first time he flagged it to PATC and NPS, they said they would get to it once the trail reopened. He is going to alert them again.
Green Eyeshades says
There are only four detour signs so far, according to a DC Water August 16 email.
The only “detour” sign in our neighborhood east of Connecticut Avenue will be a sign on Albemarle facing westbound traffic on Albemarle as it approaches the NE corner of Albemarle and 29th Street.
Just west of Connecticut, there will be a detour sign on the NE corner of 35th Street & Albemarle, apparently facing traffic coming from Yuma (i.e., from the north).
Along Connecticut Avenue, there will be a detour sign south of Albemarle at the SE corner of Connecticut & Tilden, facing northbound traffic, and another sign far north of Albemarle at the NW corner of Nebraska and Connecticut, facing southbound traffic.
Some or all of those signs may already be in place. DC Water said on August 16 they would installed on Monday, August 19.
Paul says
Anyone living in the northern reaches of Forest Hills, above Soapstone Valley, knows there is a lot of traffic flow up and down Linnean to Albemarle, or Linnean to 30th to Albemarle. No signage about the road closure on that route seems odd. It also seems odd that DC Water is deciding where traffic information signs go, when it is DDOT’s job to measure and manage traffic flow. Maybe these agencies are not communicating?
Green Eyeshades says
I completely agree that there need to be many more “detour” signs at locations like the ones you suggested. Especially at 30th Street where it meets Linnean, at Davenport where commuters come up from Broad Branch out of the park, and the same for Brandywine at the intersection with Linnean.
Also, there is some evidence that DC Water and DDOT are not paying the normal amount of attention to these signs. First of all, they are not really “detour” signs because they don’t tell drivers where they should go to avoid the shutdown at Albemarle & Connecticut. Secondly, the one I looked at shows these two screens in all capital letters:
Screen One: “Upcoming Closure.”
Screen Two: “Albemarle Steet” [sic]