(June 13, 2011) – Next week, the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) begins a $3.7 million safety and resurfacing project on more than four miles of I-495 (Capital Beltway) between US 29 (Colesville Road) and Seminary Road in Silver Spring/Kensington.  Weather permitting, the project should be complete before Thanksgiving.

Work includes:

• Grinding and resurfacing both directions of I-495; and
• Grinding and resurfacing the ramps at the MD 97 (Georgia Avenue) and US 29 interchanges.
 

Other work includes cleaning and repairing existing inlets, roadway patching, repairing the concrete median barrier, repairing/replacing guardrail, repairing/replacing concrete curb and gutter and installing new pavement markings.  

The project will enhance ride quality and safety for more than 233,000 motorists who travel the I-495 corridor between the I-95/I-495 interchange in College Park and I-270.  The existing pavement is showing signs of wear including rutting and cracking.  SHA last resurfaced this section of roadway in 2004.

Motorists will experience delays on I-495 during construction:

• Westbound I-495 (Outer Loop) & Eastbound (Inner Loop): single lane closures will occur Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and overnight Sunday through Thursday between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.; double lane closures can be expected overnight Monday through Friday between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
• MD 97 and US 29 Ramps: this fall, ramps will be closed one at a time overnight Sunday through Thursday between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. with posted detours.

SHA awarded the contract to Bardon, Inc. of Greenbelt.  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 - look for reduced speed limits, narrow driving lanes and highway workers.  Slow down and don't follow too closely.  Safer Driving. Safer Work Zones.  For everyone.

Citizens who have questions about traffic operations on I-495, US 29 or other State numbered routes in Montgomery County may call SHA’s District 3 Office at 301-513-7300 or toll free at 1-800-749-0737.  Citizens can also sign up for the District 3 RSS feed http://roads.maryland.gov/pages/districts.aspx?did=d3.

 

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