TRAFFIC ALERT for January 5

I thought this might be of interest to many of you.  Please see below.

-Bill

STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION PERMANENTLY SHIFTS RANDOLPH ROAD TRAFFIC IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Traffic Switch Planned for January 5;

Motorists will Shift to Westbound Montrose Parkway

The Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA), working with the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (DOT), will shift westbound Randolph Road traffic to the newly opened westbound Montrose Parkway between Maple/Chapman avenues and “old” Old Georgetown Road. This switch was originally scheduled for the weekend of December 18 but postponed for the winter storm.

The new traffic pattern is part of the $47.2 million MD 355/Montrose Parkway/Randolph Road interchange project in Montgomery County, which began summer 2008.

The traffic shift will begin at approximately 10 a.m. on Tuesday, December 5 at these locations:

Randolph Road

• Drivers traveling on westbound Randolph Road wishing to access Montrose Road will follow westbound Montrose Parkway; make an immediate right onto “old” Old Georgetown Road and then a left onto Montrose Road. Drivers wishing to access I-270 or all other points west will continue straight through on westbound Montrose Parkway. Motorists will no longer be able to cross over MD 355 to access Montrose Road.

• Drivers on westbound Randolph Road wishing to continue north and south on MD 355 will follow westbound Montrose Parkway, make an immediate right onto “old” Old Georgetown Road and then another right onto Montrose Road to access MD 355.

Northbound MD 355

• Drivers on northbound MD 355 wishing to access westbound Montrose Road will use the new exit ramp to Montrose Parkway/Randolph Road. At the bottom of the ramp drivers will make a left at the new signal onto westbound Montrose Parkway and then make an immediate right onto “old” Old Georgetown Road and a left onto Montrose Road. Motorists will no longer be able to turn left from MD 355 to access Montrose Road.

Montrose Road

• Drivers traveling on eastbound Montrose Road wishing to access north or southbound MD 355 will continue to follow the existing traffic pattern.

SHA is partnering with police and will use variable message signs, barrels and cones to guide motorists through the work zone. In the event of inclement weather SHA will reschedule the switch for the next good weather day.

The entire interchange project is expected to be complete late-fall 2010, weather permitting. SHA’s contractor for the $47.2 million project is Concrete General, Inc. of Gaithersburg.

Customers who have questions about MD 355 or any other State numbered roadway in Montgomery County should call SHA’s District 3 office at 1-800-749-0737. SHA encourages all motorists to drive responsibly and “Think Orange” while driving through work zones by driving the speed limit and remaining alert at all times.

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