Wheaton Revitalization Update: Reedie Drive between Triangle Lane and Grandview Avenue will be temporarily closed between 5 a.m. and 12 noon on Saturday, April 7

For Immediate Release: Thursday, April 5, 2018

Access to Triangle and Grandview will not be affected by the closure to air-lift a large drill rig from foundation hole on site of future 14-story Montgomery County office building

The Downtown Wheaton Revitalization Project, which will include construction of a 14-story Montgomery County government office building and an adjacent public square, occasionally requires traffic pattern changes due to construction demands.  On Saturday, April 7, Reedie Drive between Triangle Lane and Grandview Avenue near the construction site will be temporarily closed between 5 a.m. and 12 noon.

Access to Triangle Lane and Grandview will not be affected for the temporary closure, which is necessary to air-lift a large drill rig out of the foundation hole. The bottom of the hole is more than 50 feet deep. The on-site tower cranes lack the hoisting capacity to lift such heavy loads. This action was previously scheduled for last weekend, but was postponed and moved to this Saturday.

Major steps in the revitalization of Wheaton are evolving around the Wheaton Triangle Business District as the three-year project continues to be on schedule for completion in 2020—and continues to be on budget.

Over the next 2 ½ years, the Wheaton Revitalization Project will be transforming Wheaton’s central business district with a mixed-use, transit-oriented development. In addition to the construction of a 14-story government office building, the project will provide 397 below ground parking spaces, first floor retail space and the new town square. Most significantly impacted during construction is the Wheaton Triangle area between Veirs Mill Road and Georgia Avenue. The local roads that form the Triangle area include Grandview Avenue, Reedie Drive and Triangle Lane.

The main occupant of the building will be the relocated Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, which is now in Downtown Silver Spring. The new 308,000 square-foot, LEED platinum certified Wheaton office building, which will include retail operations on its ground floor, will also be home to several County departments including Permitting Services, Environmental Protection, Health and Human Services, Recreation and Community Use of Public Facilities. Also relocating to the new building are the Wheaton Urban District and the Mid-County Regional Services Center.

Construction began in June 2017. With each significant step, some aspects of the area are occasionally impacted. The schedule for significant project milestones includes:

• Demolition of former Mid-County Regional Services Center (March-April 2018)
• Foundation construction completion (Summer 2018)
• Town Square completion (Summer 2019)
• Building top-out (August 2019)
• Building close-in (October 2019)
• Interior build-out (Spring 2020)
• Substantial completion (May 2020)
• Move-in: occupancy (Summer 2020)

A camera has been installed to view construction on the site and can be accessed via the project’s website at: wheatonproject.com.

The Wheaton Revitalization Project will create a walkable, pedestrian-friendly community with access to public open space. The project aims to increase use of the Wheaton Metro Station, reduce traffic congestion, increase employment opportunities and services in the area as well as introduce outdoor entertainment opportunities on the new town square.

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Release ID: 18-502
Media Contact: Patrick Lacefield 240-777-6507, Neil H. Greenberger 240-205-1915