Press Releases - Department of Transportation

For Immediate Release: Thursday, August 29, 2019

MCDOT Director Roshdieh, Montgomery County Executive Elrich and Congressman John Sarbanes Preside in Dedication of Rebuilt Gold Mine Road Bridge in Brookeville

Dozens of Brookeville community members, federal, state and local officials gathered under a cloudless blue sky and bright balloons to mark the opening of the new Gold Mine Road Bridge over the Hawlings River in Brookeville this morning. MCDOT Director Al Roshdieh, County Executive Marc Elrich and Congressman John Sarbanes addressed the crowd.

“I am delighted to open this beautiful new bridge,” said Director Roshdieh. “I hope you will agree with me that it was worth the wait.” He pointed out the new 8-foot-wide shared path that provides for safe passage for pedestrians and cyclists, and the expansion from the original 16-foot-wide, single-lane bridge to the current 33-foot-wide, 2-lane bridge. He also noted the higher elevation of the new bridge, which was designed to alleviate conditions that led to flooding of the old bridge several times a year following heavy rains.

MCDOT Director Roshdieh addresses the crowd.

County Executive Elrich thanked the MCDOT team and federal and state partners, noting the significant safety improvements the new bridge alignment delivers with its

much longer line of sight for approaching motorists and cyclists.

Congressman Sarbanes urged the crowd to look beyond the atonal federal environment and recognize that local efforts that go into constructing such projects as the Gold Mine Road Bridge represent what is best about our country.

The $3.5 million bridge project, which was supported by funds from the Federal Highway Administration and the County, was finished on schedule by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation—in time to allow for school buses to pass through the Brookeville neighborhood for the opening of the 2019-20 school year next week. The alignment of the new bridge, which replaced a deteriorating bridge that was originally built in 1958, is in accordance with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission 2005 Olney Master Plan.

“Modernizing our infrastructure is crucial to Maryland’s success,” said Senator Chris Van Hollen, who sent a representative to the dedication event. “The new Gold Mine Road Bridge will better serve the residents of Brookeville and those traveling through. I will continue working in the Senate to secure federal dollars for important investments like this.”

The construction on Gold Mine Road, which provides a connection from Georgia Avenue (Route 97) north of Olney to New Hampshire Avenue (Route 650), required the closure of the road at the bridge location since construction began in October 2018. While some additional work around the site will continue into the fall, the roadway opened immediately following the dedication ceremony.

See more photos from flickr album.