Pedestrian Bridge Over Wiehle Avenue In Reston Set To Open: County

RESTON, VA — Bike riders, joggers and walkers traveling on the W&OD Trail will soon be able to safely cross the Wiehle Avenue in Reston. On July 9, Fairfax County will officially open the pedestrian bridge overpass between Sunset Hills Road and the Reston Fire Station.

"Very soon, there's going to be a safe way for folks to stay on the trail and get across Wiehle Avenue," Hunter Mill Supervisor Walter Alcorn said, in a video included in a recent email newsletter. "I'm really looking forward to that."

Financed by federal and state grants, the bridge is part of the Reston Metrorail Access Group program and replaces that at-grade crossing of the W&OD Trail over Wiehle Avenue. Fairfax County broke ground on the project on May 9, 2023.

During the overnight hours of April 13, Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services workers used a crane to lower the bridge into place over the roadway.

Related: Video: W&OD Trail Bridge Installed Over Wiehle Avenue In Reston

The addition of a bridge over Wiehle Avenue is expected to eliminate conflicts between trail users and vehicles, as well as reduce the number of rear-end collisions at the intersection, according to Fairfax County.

Along with the installation of the bridge, Wiehle Avenue will be widened in both directions from Sunset Hills Road to the Reston Fire Station and Pupatella Pizza entrances. This will allow for the addition of two 5-foot-wide bike lanes in keeping with Fairfax County’s Comprehensive Transportation plan.