Gaithersburg Nixes Plans For Pedestrian Bridge Over Great Seneca Highway; City Will Focus on Intersection Pedestrian Improvements

The City of Gaithersburg Public Works Department has been evaluating the possible installation of a pedestrian bridge over Great Seneca Highway (MD 119) between mile point 2.10 and 2.55 at the intersection of Kentlands Boulevard/Orchard Ridge Drive. At the July 10, 2023 meeting, the City Council directed Staff to move forward with an amendment to the City’s agreement with AstraZeneca to terminate the pedestrian bridge project and reallocate approximately $2.0 million for intersection pedestrian improvements at the City’s highest need locations, under the newly created “AstraZeneca Safety Improvement Fund.”

Project Background: MedImmune (now AstraZeneca) partnered with the City to fund the design and construction of a new pedestrian bridge across Great Seneca Highway.  The bridge planned to have two approach access ramps for pedestrians and bicyclists. The City started the initial evaluation of the project in 2017, which was followed by early concepts in 2018 and continued with procurement of an engineering consultant for final design services starting in 2021.

In 2023, the city received the 75% design submittal from the City’s engineering consultant.  The associated construction cost estimate showed the total bridge construction cost at approximately $5.9 million, which is $1.3 million over the original cost estimate.  In addition, the pedestrian bridge includes annual maintenance costs over the lifetime of the bridge which are substantial and would need to be funded entirely by the City. Great Seneca Highway is a state owned and maintained roadway. Kentlands Boulevard and Orchard Ridge Drive are City owned and maintained.

The Mayor and City Council received design and cost updates at public meetings on November 14, 2022 and July 10, 2023.  At the November 14, 2022 meeting, the City Council directed Staff to explore options to invest in alternative pedestrian safety improvements at the bridge intersection as well as other intersections throughout the City that demonstrated a need for safety improvements.  The preliminary results of the City’s Intersection Pedestrian Safety Study were presented to the Mayor and City Council at the March 13, 2023 Mayor and City Council meeting.  The study showed that safety improvements could be completed at eight study intersections at a total construction cost of approximately $1.2 million.

The July 2023 Mayor and City Council Presentation can be found here. Information courtesy of the City of Gaithersburg.