New Road Repair Projects Planned

MCDOT will be improving the County’s infrastructure with the following projects:

• Residential roadway resurfacing in the Heritage Farm neighborhood in Potomac beginning in late March.
• Roadway patching in Kemp Mill in Silver Spring beginning in April.
• Concrete repair and replacement in Wheaton Woods, Rockville, beginning in late-March and Stonebridge in Potomac beginning in mid-March.
• Storm drainage improvement on Oakmont Street in Gaithersburg beginning in March. 

MCDOT to Begin Bridge Reconstruction and Roadway and Storm Drainage Improvement Projects

MCDOT’s Division of Transportation Engineering Construction will soon begin two projects: 

Replacement of the Pennyfield Lock Road Bridge and roadway and storm drainage improvements at Wapakoneta and Wehawken roads in Glen Echo Heights.

The Pennyfield Lock Road Bridge passes over a tributary of Muddy Branch. The bridge was built in 1930 and is a single concrete slab structure with one-14-foot-wide lane that carries two-way traffic. The replacement bridge will have one 12-foot traffic lane and two two-foot shoulders for a total width of sixteen feet to accommodate two bike lanes on the bridge. The bridge will be aligned west of the existing structure.

The existing bridge will remain open during construction, providing park access.

Follow the project’s progress on Twitter at #PennyfieldBridge.

Along Wapakoneta Road, the lack of a drainage system or roadside ditches affects 22 homes, causing severe residential flooding during rain storms, erosion to roadway shoulders and roadway flooding. In response to resident concerns, MCDOT will install curbs and gutters, a storm drain system and reconstruct the road, followed by pavement resurfacing.  Follow the project’s progress on Twitter at #WapakonetaRd.

Read the press release here.

MTA Announces Closure of Elm Street in Bethesda

The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) announced that PEPCO has begun relocating multiple underground duct banks, manholes, and underground vaults on Elm Street, as well as relocating duct banks along Wisconsin Avenue. During the relocation work, Elm Street will be closed to through traffic, but sidewalk access will be maintained. The PEPCO work will last approximately eight months. Read more.

MCDOT Making Progress on White Flint West Workaround Project

The White Flint West Workaround transportation project will help create a pedestrian-friendly community where residents and visitors can walk to work, shops and transit. Want to stay up-to-date on the progress MCDOT is making on the first of two phases of the White Flint West Workaround transportation project?  Follow the progress on Twitter @MoCo_DTE under #whiteflintwest. The first phase is scheduled to be completed by the end of calendar year 2017.

Removal and backfilling of the largest of three old underground Stormwater vaults.

Area Map

Highway Services Begins Repair and Replacement Project in College View

In June, the Division of Highway Services (DHS) begins a six to eight-week project to repair and/or replace curbs, gutters and sidewalks in the College View neighborhood in Kensington. DHS will remove and replace damaged sidewalks and ensure they comply with Americans with Disabilities Act standards; remove and replace deteriorated, damaged and misaligned sidewalks and curbs; and restore disturbed areas with soil, grass seed and straw mulch.

Residents are eligible to participate in the Driveway Apron and Lead Walk Repair Program that allows homeowners to take advantage of the County’s competitively bid contract prices to replace these parts of their property. Read more.

Work will occur between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Become an Adopt a Road or Adopt a Spot Volunteer

Join hundreds of volunteers who keep our roadways and parks free of litter by participating in the Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s (MCDOT) Adopt A Road (AAR) and Adopt A Spot (AAS) programs. Read more.

Montgomery County Celebrates the 10-Year Anniversary of the Watershed Trash Treaty at the Transforming Communities Summit

In March, County Executive Ike Leggett participated as a keynote lunch speaker at the Transforming Communities:Trash-Free Solutions for Healthy Lives, Clean Land, Safe Water Summit sponsored by the Alice Ferguson Foundation. This summit marked the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Potomac River Watershed Trash Treaty, an agreement between regional leaders, businesses and governments who are committed to working towards a cleaner community. 

Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III, Montgomery County Executive, Ike Leggett, Tommy Wells on behalf of District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser and Lori Arguelles, Executive Director of the Alice Ferguson Foundation. 

Joining Leggett was Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III, Tommy Wells on behalf of District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser and other community leaders who shared policy and community outreach successes over the past decade as well as actions for the future. A closing panel discussion included Lisa Feldt, Director of the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection; Tommy Wells, Director of the District Department of Energy & Environment; and Adam Ortiz, Director of the Department of the Environment for Prince George's County. The event opened with a photographic journey along the Anacostia River from the lens of award-winning photographer and author Krista Schlyer.

“I am very proud of the innovative work Montgomery County does to keep our community trash-free and our streams and waterways clean including banning Styrofoam and promoting the importance of reusable bags,” said Leggett. “Trash hurts our neighborhoods and streams, blocks our storm drains causing our streets and basements to flood, carries impurities into our drinking water supplies and destroys our water habitat.”

“We are working on a number of initiatives, including reducing trash in the Anacostia watershed and collaborating with our neighboring jurisdictions to implement innovative and sustainable approaches to improve our streams and address our environmental challenges,” said Feldt. “DEP has embraced our leadership role to work to protect our natural resources and reduce as much waste as possible.”

The Potomac River Watershed Trash Treaty identified the impact of trash on the quality of life in communities around the region, including the Anacostia River, which is a shared waterway. It is estimated that the storm water management practices implemented in the Montgomery County portion of the Anacostia River capture over 11,000 pounds of trash each year.

Montgomery County is recognized, regionally and nationally, as a leader of environmental stewardship. Recent legislation has included the 2012 carryout bag law requiring retailers to charge five cents per bag to deter the use of disposable bags and the passing of Bill 41-14, commonly known as the “Styrofoam ban” to ban the use ofnon-recyclable Styrofoam in the County.

Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett to be keynote Speaker at the Transforming Communities Trash-Free Summit

On March 22, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett will be a keynote lunch speaker at the Transforming Communities Trash-Free Solutions for Healthy Lives, Clean Land, Safe Water Summit sponsored by the Alice Ferguson Foundation. The summit will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the University of Maryland College Park’s Riggs Alumni Center. This is the 10^th anniversary of the signing of the Potomac River Watershed Trash Treaty, an agreement amongst regional leaders, businesses and governments that committed to working towards a trash free Potomac River.

Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett
 will be a keynote lunch speaker

Joining Leggett on the panel will be Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III and other leaders. The panel will be moderated by Greater Washington Board of Trade President and CEO, Jim Dinegar, who will lead a discussion about the successes and best management practices of Maryland jurisdictions.

View the agenda and register for the summit online.

Become an Exhibitor at the April 30 Montgomery County Greenfest

The 2nd annual Montgomery County GreenFest will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 30 at the Takoma Park Community Center. GreenFest is looking for exhibitors to provide food or display information about their company or organization. For-profit and nonprofit environmentally-focused organizations and vendors are encouraged to participate.  Space is limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is expected to open the second week in February.

GreenFest is a celebration of the people and environment of Montgomery County and the role we all play in making it a healthier, sustainable community. It was launched last year as a public-private partnership of 13 governmental agencies and nonprofits to provide a platform for combining education, networking and entertainment -- all focused on the environment.  It is expected to be the largest countywide environmental festival and attract well over 1,000 attendees.

This year’s event will feature family-oriented activities, inspirational speakers, music, films, an electric vehicle show, Do-It-Yourself workshops, food and a documentary screening presented in partnership with the Environmental Film Festival. In addition to a major focus on water-related issues, the event will feature concurrent presentations on energy efficiency and renewable energy, recycling and waste reduction, landscaping, sustainable transportation, and more.

Sign up to be an exhibitor or learn more about the event.

Highway Services Completes Sweepstakes Road Culvert Replacement

MCDOT’s Highway Services Division has completed a five-month, emergency project to replace a culvert in Damascus under Sweepstakes Road between Cutsail Drive and Newbury Road. The road is now open and Ride On bus Route 90, which was temporarily detoured around the construction area, has resumed its regular schedule.  More information about the project is available online.  See the Route 90 schedule online.

MCDOT and DEP Remind Residents to Keep Leaves out of Storm Drains and Streams

 

With Highway Services’ annual leaf vacuum collection program underway, both MCDOT and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) remind residents to help keep leaves out of storm drains.  Leaves washed into storm drains not only block drain inlets, causing street flooding, but also add excessive nutrients to local waterways, significantly degrading water quality and potentially harming fish and wildlife.

Avoid raking leaves into the street; instead, pile them near the edge of the home’s property nearest the road. Crews will collect the leaves that are placed alongside the roadway. And, be assured that storing leaves on the lawn for a short time does not damage it.

In addition to clogging storm drains and impairing water quality, placing leaf piles in the street can cause many problems by:

• Disrupting traffic - Many neighborhoods have narrow streets and on-street parking. Leaf piles extending into the roadway limit parking and the ability of vehicles, especially school buses, to safely negotiate the streets.
• Hampering snow removal operations - Snow covered leaf piles can become extremely heavy and freeze to the roadway surface.
• Creating hazardous and very slippery conditions that could lead to accidents - When leaves get wet, they create a slick surface that makes it difficult for vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists to stop, start or change direction.

There are several ways that homeowners can ensure fallen leaves are properly disposed, particularly for those who do not live the leaf vacuum collection area:

• Recycle leaf litter (not recommended for evergreen needles) on the lawn while mowing using either special mulching blades or a mulching lawn mower. Leaves are finely chopped and decompose over time, adding to soil and lawn health.
• Compost leaf litter and provide natural, organic nutrients to amend soils and help build soil structure. Montgomery County provides free composting bins and information on how to compost.
• Take advantage of the County’s weekly curbside yard trim pick-up by placing leaves in special large paper bags or reusable cans labeled with green yard trim stickers. The collected leaves are composted by Montgomery County.

Learn more about recycling leaves and yard trim online. 

SHA Begins Drainage Project on Connecticut Avenue

 

On November 30 (weather permitting), the State Highway Administration (SHA) will begin a drainage improvement project to construct new channel gutters along southbound Connecticut Avenue in Chevy Chase at the intersections of Woodbine Street and Blackthorn Street. The project will address community concerns about standing water after rainstorms.

Work crews have started at the Connecticut Avenue-Blackthorn Street intersection and then will proceed to Woodbine Street. The public should expect temporary lane closures and restricted access to Blackthorn and Woodbine while work is underway. Signs will be posted to alert drivers.

Crews will work on weekdays, except holidays. The project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.  

Upcoming Highway Services Road Improvement Projects

The Division of Highway Services (DHS) continues road improvement projects in September/October. Schedules are dependent on weather conditions.

Permanent pavement patching preserves pavement, restoring the roadway’s structural capacity and integrity. In these types of projects, DHS makes full depth patches, seals cracks, applies hot mix asphalt and replaces lane markings. Upcoming projects will take about six weeks to complete and will require temporary lane closures. Work will take place Monday through Friday, but some Saturday work may be required.

• Blunt Road between Brink Road and Watkins Mill Road, Germantown. Work will
  take about two weeks. Work hours are between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.
• Flower Hill Way, Gaithersburg. Work will take about two weeks. Work hours are
  between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
• Shady Grove Plaza, Rockville. Work will take about five days. Work hours are
  between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
•   Chestnut Hills neighborhood, Wheaton. Work will take about four weeks. Work hours
  are between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.
• Glenhaven neighborhood, Silver Spring. Work will take about four weeks. Work hours
  are between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

            A five week paving project will begin on Brickyard Road, between Falls Road and MacArthur Boulevard, Potomac to repair and resurface the roadway. The project includes full depth patching, pavement milling, paving with hot mix asphalt and replacement of lane markings. Work hours will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, but some Saturday work may be required.  Read more.

A neighborhood pavement preservation project is planned for the Laytonsville Knolls neighborhood in Laytonsville. The two week project will take place Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Work includes full depth patching, crack sealing, micro surfacing and replacement of lane markings. Read more.

MCDOT will begin a project this fall to rehabilitate the pavement, curbs and sidewalks in the Alderleaf community in Germantown.  Weather permitting, the work should take about eight weeks. Residents will be able to take advantage of the driveway apron and lead walk repair program while crews are in the neighborhood. MCDOT will manage the project and have supervisors onsite daily during construction.  Read more.

Update on Highway Services Projects

        

   Update on Highway Services Projects

MCDOT will begin a project this fall to rehabilitate the pavement, curbs and sidewalks in the Edgemoor/Bradley Hills community in Bethesda. Weather permitting, the work should be completed in the fall/winter of 2016. MCDOT will manage the project and have supervisors onsite daily during construction.  Read more.

This month, Highway Services begins an eight-week project to repair sidewalks and curbs in the Gold Mine Crossing neighborhood of Brookeville. Work hours will be weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.While MCDOT contractors are in the area, residents can take advantage of the driveway apron and lead walk repair program to make repairs on their property at the County's competitively bid prices.

 Highway Services has completed a culvert replacement project ahead of schedule along Izaak Walton Way in Poolesville. The former pipe that carried water from Horsepen Branch Creek under the road had eroded, requiring urgent action. In addition to new culverts, new headwalls were constructed. Read more. 

Beginning this month, Highway Services will repave Seven Locks Road from Tuckerman Lane to Democracy Boulevard. Staff will make full depth patches, mill the pavement, repave roads with hot mix asphalt and replace lane markings. The project will take about four weeks to complete, but schedules are dependent on weather conditions. Work hours will be weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. Some Saturday work may be required.  Read more.

Highway Services Road Improvement Projects Ahead

The Division of Highway Services will begin several projects to resurface roads. Staff will make full depth patches, mill the pavement, repave roads with hot mix asphalt and replace lane markings. Schedules are dependent on weather conditions.  Projects include:

• Greenwood Knolls neighborhood in Silver Spring.  The project will take four to six weeks to
  

  

  complete. Work hours will be weekdays between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Some work may be required on Saturdays.
• Second Avenue, between Spring Street and Colesville Road (US 29), in Silver Spring.  Second Avenue will take about five weeks to complete with work hours on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and at night between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. Some work may be required on Saturdays.
• Norton Road, between Glen Road and River Road, in Potomac. Work hours will be between weekdays 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Some work may be required on Saturdays.
• Cheltenham Drive in Bethesda from Wisconsin Avenue (MD 355) to Tilbury Street. The project will take about five days. Work hours will be during week nights from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
• Spring Garden Estates, Damascus. The project will take about four weeks to complete with work hours between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays. Some work may be required on Saturdays.
• Montgomery Industrial Park in Silver Spring. The project will take five to eight weeks to complete, weather permitting. Work will take place during the week between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and at night between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. Some work on Saturdays may be required.

A permanent paving patching project on Riggs Road in Gaithersburg will take about four weeks, weather permitting, with work hours 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Some work on Saturdays may also be required. Staff will identify areas of pavement that need to be replaced and make full depth patches followed by resurfacing with hot mix asphalt.

Two pavement preservation projects to restore roadway structural integrity will begin on Decoverly Drive, from Great Seneca Highway to Diamondback Drive, in Gaithersburg and the Fox Hills West neighborhood in Potomac. The projects include full depth patching, utility adjustments, crack sealing, micro surfacing and replacement of lane markings.

Decoverly Drive will take about six to eight weeks to complete and work hours will be weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Work in Fox Hills West will take about four weeks to complete. Work hours from Monday through Friday will be 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Highway Services will begin an emergency storm drain improvement project on the right-of-way in front of 402 Ellsworth Drive near the intersection of Bennington Drive in Silver Spring. The project will involve removal of a tree that is on top of the failing storm drain pipe and replacement of the pipe. The project will take about 15 days to complete, weather permitting. Work hours are from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.

Go Montgomery Newsletter - July 15, 2015

Randolph Road to Close for About a Week Starting Saturday, July 18 Randolph Road at Nebel Street will close for about a week on Saturday, July 18 while CSX performs track maintenance. CSX expects to reopen the road on Friday, July 24, weather permitting. Read more. It’s Not Too Late to Submit a Photo for MCDOT’s Annual Photography Competition; Application Due Date Extended to July 31 For the 24th Annual Amateur Photography Contest, photos of County locations or residents are judged on effective composition, originality, interest and relevance of the subject matter, and technique. Categories include Montgomery County by day or by night, County landmarks, people, and persons at work. There is also an optional youth category for aspiring photographers age 18 and younger who wish to be judged only against their peers. Read more. MCDOT Highway Services Begins Urgent Drainage Repairs in Damascus, Poolesville and Chevy Chase Sweepstakes Road in Damascus between Cutsail Drive and Newbury Road will be closed for about six months as Montgomery County Department of Transportation's (MCDOT) Highway Services begins an urgent replacement of a large culvert under the road. Motorists are advised to look for signs directing them to route detours. The road will remain open to pedestrian traffic Read More. School Warning Flashers Retimed for New School Schedules this Fall; New Technology Allows Central Control of Timing Earlier this year, the Montgomery County Board of Education votedto push back school start times for all students. To accommodate this change, Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) is in the process of reprogramming more than 150 school warning flashers. As part of this effort, staff is installing new equipment that allows MCDOT’s Transportation Management Center to remotely manage the devices rather than having to individually adjust each warning flasher in the field. All school warning flashers will be upgraded by the first day of school. Use of Digital Parking Permits to Begin in Blueridge and Rosemary Hills Neighborhoods in Wheaton Starting the week of July 13, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will begin phasing in the new, online residential parking permit program that eliminates the need for paper permits in the Blueridge and Rosemary Hills neighborhoods.  Read more. Public Hearing on Phase 2 of the Montrose Parkway Project to be Held July 23 The Maryland State Highway Administration and MCDOT’s Division of Transportation Engineering will hold a public hearing on July 23 to seek comments on a proposal to construct Montrose Parkway between Maryland Route 355 (Rockville Pike) and Parklawn Drive.Read more. Express Bus Service May be Coming to Veirs Mill; Metro Could Start Service in January The Washington Area Metropolitan Transit Authority (Metro) Customer Service and Operations Board Committee approved a proposal to add limited stop Metrobus service on Veirs Mill Road from the Rockville Metrorail Station to the Wheaton Metrorail Station. Read More. One Block of Lincoln Street in Bethesda to Permanently Close on July 21 Beginning Tuesday, July 21, Lincoln Street, between Old Georgetown Road and Grant Street, will be permanently closed to make way for Suburban Hospital's construction of an addition and new parking structure. A presentation about the project is available online. SHA Shifts Traffic Lanes for University Boulevard Bridge Project in Silver Spring The Maryland Department of Transportation's State Highway Administration (SHA) has completed one-half of the $9.6 million Maryland Route 193 (University Boulevard) bridge replacement project in Silver Spring. Read more. SHA to Begin I-495 Triple Lane Closures Thursday Night Beginning Thursday, July 16 (weather permitting), and continuing each weeknight until all work is completed, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) will temporarily close traffic lanes on the Outer Loop of I-495 (Capital Beltway) over Maryland Route 185 (Connecticut Avenue, exit 34) for emergency bridge deck repairs. Read more. JULY 15, 2015 HIGHWAY SERVICES BEGIN REPAIR PROJECTS Highway Services will begin two projects to repair or replace sidewalks, curbs and gutters on Muncaster Road, from Muncaster Mill Road, MD 115, to Horizon Terrace; and in the Airpark Business District along Snouffer School Road, from Woodfield Road (MD124) to Earhart Court. Both projects are in Gaithersburg.Read more. MCDOT will resurface roadways in the Inverness North community, located in Potomac . The roads will be resurfaced with hot mix asphalt in July or August. The project should take about four weeks to complete. Work hours are from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, although some work on Saturdays may be required.Read more. MCDOT will permanently patch pavement in the Good Hope Estates community inSilver Spring; the  Carole Acres neighborhood in Colesville; and on Brookeville Road, from Georgia Avenue to Olney-Laytonsville Road, Olney, beginning in July or August. Read more. In Darnestown, crews will use a chip seal resurfacing treatment on Black Rock Road, from Darnestown Road to Burdette Lane, to preserve the pavement on this rural/rustic road. Read more. In Darnestown, crews will use a chip seal resurfacing treatment on Black Rock Road, from Darnestown Road to Burdette Lane, to preserve the pavement on this rural/rustic road. Read more.

Go Montgomery is distributed by Montgomery County Government Department of Transportation.

Donnybrook Residents Invited to Celebrate Stream Restoration Resulting from Collaboration Between DEP and MCDOT

Residents of the Donnybrook neighborhood of Chevy Chase joined the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on Saturday, May 30 to celebrate the restoration of the Donnybrook stream. Community members learned more about the project that involved the use of natural channel design principles, stream forest buffers, stormwater management facilities and the planting of more than 560 native trees and shrubs. The project required coordination with local residents and collaboration with MCDOT to replace a pedestrian bridge widely used by the community. 

Participants learned the design and construction of the project, view educational displays, and take a tour of stream restoration techniques and green street stormwater management practices. Representatives from DEP, the County’s Department of Transportation (MCDOT) and Rock Creek Conservancy participated in the event and explained what residents can do to help improve their local waterways.

The restoration project occurred along approximately 2,000 linear feet of the stream. It involved the use of natural channel design principles, stream forest buffers, stormwater management facilities and the planting of more than 560 native trees and shrubs. The project required coordination with local residents and collaboration with MCDOT to replace a pedestrian bridge widely used by the community.

DEP contact: Don Dorsey, donald.dorsey@montgomerycountymd.gov or 240-777-7712. 

A map of the stream walk, with key stopping points and times.

SHA Making Storm Water Improvements on US 29

The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) recently began a $1.1 million storm water management improvement project on US 29 (Colesville Road/Columbia Pike) between the US 29/MD 650 (New Hampshire Avenue) interchange and Industrial Parkway in Silver Spring. Weather permitting, the project is expected to be completed in late summer. Read more.

Stay Informed During Storms

Maybe the groundhog was right after all as we seem to be in the midst of six more weeks of winter. As of February 18, the Highway Services Storm Operations Center activated 12 times and depots activated six additional times to handle 22.5 inches of snow, sleet and ice so far this season.

Before, during and after a storm, there are many options available for staying informed. Check the County’s website, Facebook page or Twitter account for the latest news about services and facilities. Check snow plow progress on Highway Services’ snow map and follow Highway Services on Twitter. And, don’t forget to sign up for customized Alert Montgomery messages.