Two Major Road Projects by Maryland Department of Transportation Will Have Significant Impact for Extended Periods on Montgomery County Traffic on I-495 and US Route 29

For Immediate Release: Friday, June 26, 2020

The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) will be working on two major road projects that will have significant impact for extended periods on Montgomery County drivers. Emergency repairs to the inner loop of I-495 (Capital Beltway) Northwest Branch Bridge between MD 650 (New Hampshire Avenue) and MD 193 (University Boulevard) are expected to last through mid-July. A planned $5.7 million safety and resurfacing project covering about four miles on US 29 (Colesville Road/Columbia Pike) in Silver Spring is expected to last two years.

The early stages of the projects will coincide with the phased reopening of Montgomery County as the COVID-19 health crisis eases and more drivers return to the roads. Roadwork has already started on a summer-long MDOT SHA project to resurface southbound I-270 from Rockville to Bethesda, causing major delays each day. Drivers are advised to plan ahead, consider alternate routes or expect extra commute times if they travel on or around the routes under repair. Drivers also are asked to take extra caution to help keep workers safe.

The major repairs on the I-495 Northwest Branch Bridge will begin after the July 4 holiday. Crews will perform permanent joint repairs to the bridge. Completing the work will require daytime and nighttime intermittent single- and multiple-lane closures between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays and between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. overnight. MDOT SHA expects repairs to be completed by mid-July.

Work has begun on a nearly four-mile section of US 29, between St. Andrews Way (near Sligo Creek Parkway) and Stewart Lane.

Crews are currently replacing guardrails along US 29 and are scheduled to be finished next summer. They will then begin roadway patching, milling, paving and restriping.

The US 29 project also includes the installation of concrete bus pads; cleaning and repairs to the storm drain system; upgrades to curb, gutter and sidewalk ramps; and traffic signal improvements at the intersections of US 29 (Colesville Road/Columbia Pike) and St. Andrews Way and Prelude Drive.

MDOT SHA expects the project to be completed by the end of 2021.

Pedestrian access will be open at all times, although certain phases of construction may require temporary sidewalk closures. For the life of the project, crews will close the following in both directions of US 29:

• One lane: weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Two lanes: weekdays overnight from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
• One or two lanes: weekends (intermittently) up to 24 hours a day

MDOT SHA emphasizes its efforts to maintain safe traffic mobility in work zones for its crews and drivers. Drivers need to stay alert and, look for reduced speed limits, as well for changes in driving patterns.

MDOT SHA provides a look at real-time traffic conditions at md511.maryland.gov. 

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Release ID: 20-343
Media Contact: Neil H. Greenberger 240-205-1915