A Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) bridge rehabilitation project is bringing Safe Zones Automated Speed Enforcement (“speed cameras”) back to the Beltway. This project involves the rehabilitation of the bridge carrying I-95 above the Outer Loop of the Beltway (I-495 West) within the I-495/I-95 interchange in College Park. Contractor crews will be repairing the bridge’s deck joints as well as its concrete piers and columns.

The Automated Speed Enforcement is focused on traffic on the Outer Loop of the Beltway, just past the split with I-95 North, headed towards New Hampshire Avenue and into Montgomery County. In a written statement, the State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) highlighted the different phases of this Automated Speed Enforcement effort:

“A warning period began December 12 for motorists exceeding the posted speed limit of 55 mph. Beginning January 3, after a 21-day warning period, Maryland State Police will review and authorize citations. By law, if a vehicle is recorded traveling at or above a specified rate over the posted speed limit, a $40 fine will be issued [and mailed] to the registered owner of the vehicle. The posted speed is 55 MPH.”

Automated Work Zone Speed Enforcement has been previously implemented on several different bridge projects on the Beltway in both Montgomery and Prince George’s County.

On September 19, the Maryland State Highway Administration announced that the current closure of Brookeville Road, between Georgia Avenue (MD-97) ,and Grayheaven Manor Road, has been extended through late November. According to the State Highway Administration, the newly–extended duration of the Brookeville Road closure will allow contractors to efficiently complete Brookeville Bypass construction tasks.

The State Highway Administration recommends utilizing Georgia Avenue (MD-97) and Olney Laytonsville
Road (MD-108) as alternate routes during the Brookeville Road closure. The Brookeville Bypass project is currently 72 percent complete. The project includes a new 0.7-mile, two-lane highway with bicycle-compatible shoulders between north of Goldmine Road and south of Holiday Drive. Once complete and open to traffic, the new roadway will make Georgia Avenue more accessible and safer for local residents, cyclists, and pedestrians. The project also includes construction of two bridges – one at Meadow Branch stream and the other at Reddy Branch stream – and two single-lane roundabouts that will improve traffic and safety operations. MD 97 functions as a major north-south commuter route between Brookeville and northern Montgomery and Frederick counties.

MD 97 has a 90-degree curve at Market Street, which is accompanied by a steep hill.

Beginning on Friday, December 3 at 7AM, Maryland State Highway Administration contractors will implement long-term continuous lane closures on Northbound US-15 in Thurmont, Frederick County.

Crews will be replacing the bridge deck (concrete driving surface) on Northbound US-15 above MD 77 (West Main Street) and Hunting Creek. Northbound US-15 will be reduced to a single lane for six to eight months during both phases of this two-phase bridge rehabilitation. Southbound US-15 will not be affected by this project.

“This project is another example of [the State Highway Administration’s] commitment to infrastructure improvements and safety,” Maryland State Highway Administrator Tim Smith said in a written release. “Rehabilitation of the aging bridge will result in a smoother driving surface for motorists and reduce the need for costly future maintenance.”

The Northbound US-15 bridge was built in 1957 and though it is still safe, it is nearing the end of its useful service life. In addition to the bridge deck replacement, crews will also be repairing and strengthening the steel beams and concrete bridge piers underneath the bridge deck.

Bicycle traffic on Northbound US 15 will be detoured via Thurmont Boulevard, MD-806 (Frederick
Road), Water Street and MD-77.

Maryland State Highway Administration photo of Northbound US-15 above MD 77 (West Main Street) and Hunting Creek.

New Hyattstown Bridge Accompanies Erosion Relief, Creek Improvements

Photos Courtesy of the Maryland State Highway Administration

Maryland State Highway Administration contractors have completed replacement of the bridge carrying Frederick Road (MD-355) over Little Bennett Creek in Hyattstown, just South of the Hyattstown Volunteer Fire Department.

The project was completed by Gaithersburg-based Concrete General, Inc. In addition to replacing the bridge, the project included restoration of approximately 900 feet of Little Bennett Creek to help reduce erosion. The previous Little Bennett Creek bridge that was replaced dated back to 1925.

https://www.facebook.com/MDOTSHA/posts/2087698244711584

Featured Photo Courtesy of TrafFix Devices, Inc.

Around 11AM Monday morning, a Maryland State Highway Administration Contractor was conducting a mobile sweeping operation on Northbound I-270 near West Diamond Avenue (MD-117) in Gaithersburg. As the sweeping convoy was headed northbound, a passing SUV crashed into one of the Contractor’s trucks.

Fortunately, no injuries were reported in this crash. That was, at least in part, due to the fact that the truck that was hit was equipped with a Scorpion Truck Mounted Attenuator. These attenuators absorb the impact of striking vehicles, protecting workers ahead while also protecting the occupants of the vehicle by bringing it to a slower stop than if it just ran right into the back of the actual truck.

The Maryland State Rockville Barrack handled the crash report for this incident. Information about any citations remained unknown Tuesday morning.

Virtual Meeting February 17th About Upcoming Connecticut Avenue, Jones Bridge Road Project

On Wednesday, February 17th, at 6PM, the Maryland State Highway Administration is hosting a virtual information meeting about an upcoming intersection reconfiguration project on MD-185 (Connecticut Avenue) at Jones Bridge Road and Kensington Parkway in Chevy Chase.

The project will include widening Jones Bridge Road to accommodate an additional left turn lane from eastbound Jones Bridge Road to northbound MD 185.

Pedestrian safety improvements will include a new pedestrian refuge island in the median of Jones Bridge Road on the eastern side of the intersection, as well as a new shared-use path along Jones Bridge Road between Platt Ridge Drive and North Chevy Chase Elementary School.

On the southwest corner of the intersection, crews will remove the channelized right-turn lane in order to improve pedestrian safety by slowing turning drivers.

Project construction is scheduled to begin later this Spring, and be completed in 2023.

The virtual project meeting on Wednesday February 17th, at 6PM will be livestreamed online. A recording of the livestream will be posted on the project webpage, where further details about the project are also available.

Latest Beltway Project Increases Roadway Friction, Should Decrease Crashes

Featured Photo Courtesy of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad

Next week, Maryland State Highway Administration Contractors will begin installing the latest safety improvement designed to improve safety and reduce crashes on an especially problematic section of the Beltway.

On the Outer Loop of the Beltway between Connecticut Avenue and the Big Curve over the I-270 Spur, crews will apply a high friction surface treatment to the roadway. This treatment will increase friction, allowing vehicles to stop in shorter distances and reduce skidding and hydroplaning.

In a written statement, Maryland State Highway Administrator Tim Smith said, “This project will improve the roadway surface as one strategy to reduce crashes on the Capital Beltway. This engineering solution will make the roadway safer, especially when coupled with motorists being cautious and obeying posted speed limits.”

Contractors will close lanes on the Outer Loop between 7PM and 5AM beginning Monday, February 8. Crews will work every night of the week; completion is expected by Mid-February.