Motorists Should Expect Single and Double Overnight Lane Closures

(June 7, 2016) – The Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) will resurface nearly six miles of the inner loop of I-495 (Capital Beltway) between I-270 and the Seminary Road overpass (west of MD 97/Georgia Avenue) in Montgomery County.  The project will begin mid-June and be complete summer 2017, weather permitting.

“The pavement on this particular section of the Capital Beltway has outlived its life and needs to be resurfaced to help the ride quality for the hundreds of thousands of people who travel on it each day,” said SHA District Engineer Brian Young.  “The contractor will work at night to reduce construction-related congestion. We ask that motorists keep safety in mind and slow down.”

SHA’s contractor, F.O. Day, Inc. of Rockville, will patch, grind (remove the top layer of asphalt), resurface and restripe 5.9 miles of the inner loop of I-495.  Other work on the $9.5 million project includes:

• Repairs to the bridge decks (driving surfaces) of MD 185 (Connecticut Avenue) over I-495 and Kensington Parkway over I-495 by providing an asphalt overlay to improve ride quality;

• Upgrade and replace guardrail; and

• Repair, clean and upgrade stormwater management inlets and pipes.

Crews will close up to two lanes between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays with occasional Friday and Saturday overnight closures.  Motorists should expect single and double lane closures and overnight (after midnight) triple lane closures during paving operations scheduled for spring 2017.  SHA will use barrels and arrow boards to guide travelers safely through the work zone.

Last resurfaced in 1997, this section of I-495 has an average daily traffic volume of 230,000 vehicles daily.

While SHA and its transportation partners work hard to maintain safe traffic mobility in work zones, each driver needs to actively modify his or her driving style to help prevent crashes. Stay alert and look for reduced speed limits, narrow driving lanes and highway workers.  Slow down and don’t follow too closely. Work Zone Safety is in Your Hands.

A complete listing of current roadway projects is included in e-Road Ready 2016, the online brochure. Maryland drivers can also know before they go by calling 511 or visiting www.md511.org for live traffic updates, including construction delays and lane closures.