Final Touches for BRAC-related Project to Be Completed this Spring

(February 27, 2017) – The Maryland Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) State Highway Administration (SHA) has completed construction on a $16.1 million intersection improvement project on MD 355 (Rockville Pike) at Cedar Lane/West Cedar Lane in Bethesda, Montgomery County.  The new, wider MD 355 and reconstructed Cedar Lane intersection eases congestion in the heavily-traveled corridor, improving access to area jobs, businesses, federal agencies and schools.

“Thanks to area commuters, residents and businesses for their patience during construction,” said SHA Administrator Gregory Johnson, P.E.  “The Maryland Department of Transportation continues to make investments like this that reduce congestion and improve quality of life throughout Maryland.”

Completed work as part of the project includes:

• Widening northbound and southbound MD 355 to provide an additional lane south of Cedar Lane;

 

• Widening Cedar Lane and West Cedar lane to provide a separate through and left turn lane and a right turn lane on West Cedar Lane;

 

• Upgrading traffic and pedestrian signals on MD 355 at the intersections with Wilson Drive, North Wood Road and Cedar Lane;

 

• Installing new traffic and pedestrian signals at Cedar Lane and Elmhirst Parkway;

 

• Constructing an entrance for the Stone Ridge School along MD 355 and Cedar Lane;

 

• Creating Americans With Disabilities Act compliant sidewalks and ramps and making shared use path improvements;

 

• Building storm water management facilities and improving roadway; and

 

• Repaving all traffic lanes and applying new pavement markings.

More than 62,000 vehicles travel this section of Rockville Pike daily.  This project was part of area Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) improvements near military installations and for neighboring communities.   

Crews will complete off-road fence installation work in the next few months.  The contractor will landscape the area this spring.