Press Releases - Department of Transportation
MCDOT's Plans to Permanently Repair Sink Hole Damage to Belfast Road Will Necessitate Road Closure from Thursday through Saturday
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, July 9, 2019
A washed out section of Belfast Road in Potomac during the heavy rains of Monday morning, July 8, was restored within eight hours with a temporary repair that gave more than 70 families access to their homes. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) has now developed a plan to permanently repair the only roadway to that neighborhood, but work will result in the road being closed at 10 a.m. on Thursday and not being reopened for approximately 48 hours.
During the closure period, MCDOT will provide a shuttle service that will take residents to nearby stores and to public transportation. MCDOT employees today were providing information to the affected families on the repair process, the need to close the road and how the shuttle operation will work.
MCDOT is also coordinating with the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, the U.S. Postal Service, Montgomery County Public Schools and other stakeholders on what plans need to be in place to help the residents during the period the road will be closed.
About 11 a.m. on Monday, the overwhelming rains caused the structural failure of the two-lane road between Laurel Leaf Drive and Whiterim Terrace, just east of MacArthur Boulevard. A stream runs beneath Belfast Road, which led to the failure. A path approximately 10 feet wide was washed away across both lanes. MCDOT was at the scene quickly to assess the damage and begin the temporary repairs that had both lanes passable by 6:30 p.m. Monday evening.
Information about the project can be directed to MCDOT Highway Services Public Outreach Manager Josh Faust at 240-777-7642.
Media Contact: Maureen McNulty 240-777-7199, Neil Greenberger 240-777-6532
