Dominion has carefully considered pedestrian traffic

Following up on its incisive report on the new Radnor Heights power line, the Ode Street Tribune emailed the following question to Dominion Virginia Power:

What will be the effect of the construction of the new underground power line connecting the new Radnor Heights substation to the power substation near the crossing of Rt 110 and I-395 on traffic through the North Gate thoroughfare [multi-use trail on Marshall Drive below the Netherlands Carillon]?

Two days later a Dominion Project Communications Coordinator responded:

Dominion has carefully considered any potential inconvenience to pedestrian traffic near the Arlington Cemetery North Gate during the construction of the underground power line. Open-cut trenching is generally completed in small sections at a time, which lessens the impact of construction to users of this trail.

Maintaining public safety is of the utmost importance during any construction project. Dominion will work with local officials to create traffic control plans for not only vehicular traffic, but pedestrian traffic as well. Work crews will avoid the pedestrian path to the extent feasible.  In construction areas with tighter constraints, crews will construct a temporary pedestrian path if necessary to accommodate pedestrians during construction.  This temporary path would be clearly marked and easy to follow. When the construction is complete, the path will be restored back to its original condition.

Thank you for allowing us the opportunity to provide this additional information about the project. Should you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Dominion should be commended for its prompt reply and willingness to provide additional information.  That Dominion has "carefully considered any potential inconvenience to pedestrian traffic near the Arlington Cemetery North Gate" is re-assuring.  We assume that by "pedestrian traffic" Dominion means all modes of traffic, including bike traffic, that use the multi-mode trail.

The Ode Street Tribune sent the same question to the Arlington County Department of Environmental Services (DES).  We have not yet received a reply.  Perhaps the DES general comment form wasn't the right place for the question.