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Proposed Footbridge Over Difficult Run

Published on 12/3/2020
This Georgetown Pike Footpath Feasibility Study has been completed to assess the feasibility of constructing a footpath in the Georgetown Pike corridor, from the Difficult Run Trail in Great Falls Park to the Madeira School frontage along Georgetown Pike in McLean, Virginia. Such a footpath would provide an opportunity to complete a connection within the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (PHNST) network, while also providing a connection to surrounding local trails and to neighborhoods in the McLean and Great Falls areas of Fairfax County. Building segments of this footpath within the park and along Georgetown Pike, including building a foot bridge over Difficult Run, would benefit the many people who want to travel by foot, bicycle, or horse within this popular trail network.

This study has been led by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division (EFLHD), in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS), with assistance from Kimley-Horn through a professional services contract with EFLHD. This study has also involved key stakeholders:

■ Local agencies: Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Dranesville District (Supervisor John W. Foust); Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT); and Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA)
■ Local school: The Madeira School
■ State and regional agencies: Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), NOVA Parks (formerly Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority), and Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC)
■ Citizen groups: McLean Citizens Association and Great Falls Citizens Association
■ Advocacy groups: Potomac Heritage Trail Association (PHTA), Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE), and Fairfax Trails and Streams 

PDF of Footbridge Study: Georgetown Pike Footbridge over Difficult Run