Crews to Construct New Turn Lanes Designed to Prevent Vehicle Backups

 

(July 24, 2017) –The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) is beginning a $2.6 million safety and congestion relief improvement at the MD 97 (Georgia Avenue) and MD 28 (Norbeck Road) intersection in Montgomery County. Weather and progress permitting, the project should be complete by the end of the year.

 

The project includes:

 

• Construction of an additional left-turn lane on northbound MD 97 approaching MD 28 and beginning approximately 900 feet south of MD 28 extending north for one-fifth of    a mile; and

• Construction of a right-turn lane of westbound MD 28 approaching MD 97 at the Park and Ride lot entrance extending west for a distance of one-sixth of a mile.

 

Other work — in addition to performing road resurfacing and installing new pavement markings near the end of the project — includes:

 

• Widening MD 28 and MD 97 to accommodate the new turn lanes;

• Constructing additional concrete median on MD 97;

• Constructing new curbs and sidewalks along westbound MD 97;

• Upgrading other curb ramps and sidewalks for Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance;

• Removing the median islands in the southeast and southwest corners of the intersection and tightening the curb radii and construction of a storm water management facility in those quadrants;

• Removing a small section of the Park and Ride lot to accommodate the intersection changes and repaving the lot; and

• Reconstructing the traffic signal at the intersection with new mast arms, signal heads and brighter LED lamps.

 

Crews will begin work on the project by removing the median islands at the intersection and clearing trees and vegetation necessary to construct storm water management facilities later in the project. Any mature trees removed during the clearing process will be replaced by a similar species within or near the work zone. To perform all phases of work, crews are permitted to close one lane in both directions of MD 28 or MD 97, weekdays between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and two lanes, overnight, Sunday through Thursday, between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. MDOT SHA’s contractor for the work is Congressional Contracting of Rockville. Nearly 50,000 vehicles use this section of MD 97 daily, so drivers should plan extra travel time during construction. Equipment used during construction may be disruptive.

 

Pedestrian traffic will be maintained at all times during the project. Sidewalk users may be directed to alternate safe crossings within the work zone including the opposite side of the street.

 

For more information about this MD 97/MD 28 intersection improvement project, please contact Matthew Bartgis, MDOT SHA District 3 Project Engineer, at 240-285-0889 or Mr. John Gover, MDOT SHA District 3 Area Engineer, at 301-513-301-513-7336.
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