The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) began enhancing bike lanes along MD 190 (River Road) in Bethesda on Wednesday, October 8. The project is taking place between Brookside Drive and Little Falls Parkway and is expected to be completed by the end of October, weather permitting.
The improvements are part of the MD 190 Corridor Safety Study, released in July 2024, which identified several measures to improve safety and accessibility for cyclists and pedestrians in the busy River Road corridor. Crews will install new pavement markings, apply green paint to make bike lanes more visible to motorists, and add flexible post delineators to better separate bike lanes from vehicle travel lanes.
The project area runs near the Capital Crescent Trail, one of the region’s most popular hiker-biker routes connecting communities across Montgomery County and into D.C. Officials hope the enhanced lanes will make cycling along River Road safer and more comfortable, particularly given its proximity to the trail.
Public safety reporter Cordell Pugh shared, “Maryland State Highway Administration contractors have begun the latest round of safety improvements on River Road (MD-190) between Brookside Drive & Little Falls Parkway. Today, crews are enhancing the visibility of the corridor’s existing bike lanes.”
MDOT SHA reminds drivers to stay alert and obey posted speed limits when traveling through the work zone. Cones and barrels will be used to guide traffic safely during construction. “The State Highway Administration is serious about safety,” the agency said in a statement. “Drivers need to stay alert, focus on driving, and slow down in construction zones.”
