(August 10, 2015) – Beginning Wednesday morning (weather permitting), the Maryland Department of Transportation’s  State Highway Administration (SHA) will resurface  traffic lanes on MD 355 (Rockville Pike) to prepare for  an upcoming traffic shift on MD 355 near the Cedar Lane/West Cedar Lane intersection. Weather permitting, all work related to the repaving and traffic shift should be complete by 5 a.m. August 21.

At 8 a.m. on Wednesday and continuing until all repaving is complete, crews will resurface all lanes of northbound MD 355 within the project limits. To complete the repaving, traffic will be shifted from the left side of northbound MD 355 to the right side of the road, while maintaining three through lanes. All work will be complete and all traffic lanes will reopen no later than 3 p.m. each day. The resurfacing work is needed prior to a traffic shift along MD 355 that will take place next week (weather permitting) for ongoing underground culvert work and road widening work.

Additionally, to complete next week’s traffic shift, beginning next Tuesday night, August 25 at 9 p.m. (weather permitting), crews will be:

• Extending the southbound MD 355 left turn lane to Cedar Lane;

• Adding a dedicated right turn lane from southbound MD 355 to West Cedar Lane;

• Shifting traffic on Cedar Lane from the right to the left starting at Parkhill Drive to create a pattern of a shared right/through lane and two dedicated left turn lanes and;

• Shifting traffic to the right on West Cedar Lane to create a pattern of two dedicated left turn lanes, a single through lane and a dedicated right turn lane.

The left turn restriction from northbound MD 355 onto West Cedar Lane that began earlier this year remains in effect through the end of the project next year. Motorists should plan ahead and allow extra commute time in this busy area through all phases of construction.

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In addition to this project, drivers may also encounter mobile or short-term work zones. Click here for a mid-summer updated listing of major SHA projects in Maryland. Always expect the unexpected, pay extra close attention and drive slowly through any work zone. Whether it’s a tree trimming operation or a bridge project, be aware when orange is there: Think Orange (the color of construction equipment and signs), stay alert and slow down. Everyone is at risk.

In four out of five work zone-related crashes, it is the driver or passenger who is injured or killed. In 2014, nine people lost their lives in Maryland work zone crashes, including four highway workers. While SHA and its transportation partners work hard to keep traffic safely moving in work zones, please partner with us because work zone safety is everyone’s business – slow down and stay alert. Safer driving. Safer work zones. For everyone.