County Council Asks Governor Hogan to Reinstate Plans for Full Watkins Mill Road Interchange

18thCountyCouncilGroupformalSecondYearBEST 12-1-15The nine members of the Montgomery County Council have sent a letter to Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and Peter Rahn, the secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation, asking that the state proceed with the original design of the long-planned interchange at I-270 and Watkins Mill Road in Gaithersburg. It was recently learned that the State may be making changes to scale back the project.

“Last week we were dismayed to learn that the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) has delayed indefinitely the notice to proceed to construct the planned I-270/Watkins Mill Road interchange, and that MDOT is seriously considering proceeding without ramps from Watkins Mill Road to I-270, and perhaps without either on- or off-ramps,” said the elected leaders. “We insist that plans for anything less than the full interchange be dismissed and that MDOT proceed with the project as designed immediately.”

The letter goes on to say: “Nothing short of a full interchange is acceptable. With an interchange, traffic at the MD 124/MD 355 intersection—now operating at more than 25 percent over capacity—and at the regularly congested MD 117/MD 124 intersection would finally get some relief. All these are State highways upon which our residents and businesses depend.”

You can read the elected leaders’ letter, below:

Watkins Mill Interchange Project Will Cause Lane Closures

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The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration is preparing to set structural support beams at the I-270/Watkins Mill Road interchange project in Gaithersburg. The steel beam installation work will begin Sunday, Feb. 3. It is scheduled to be complete by the beginning of March. To perform this phase of the $84 million project, motorists […]

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What Watkins Mill Interchange Looks Like from the Air

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Gregory Slater, administrator of the State Highway Administration, shared aerial photos of the Watkins Mills interchange project with Gaithersburg city officials. Motorists drive past the work every day on I-270. Here’s what it looks like from the air (click to enlarge):

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Five Things to Know for Nov. 29 in Montgomery County

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It’s Thursday, Nov. 29, and here are five things Montgomery County residents need to know: 1. Planning Meeting: The Planning Board meets today and will work on the Veirs Mill Corridor Master Plan, among numerous other items. The meeting agenda may be found, here. 2. Listening Tour: County Executive-elect Marc Elrich is holding a meeting with residents at Olney […]

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Top 20 Stories for 2017

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With all the public safety news, the events happening in the school system and even the development announcements we’ve covered this year, our No. 1 story for the year was … drum roll please … sunflowers. Here are the Top 20 stories for the year for MyMCMedia.org:   UPDATED: Acres of Sunflowers Are Blooming in Poolesville […]

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The Year in Transportation: New Lanes Proposed for I-270, Capital Beltway

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Gov. Larry Hogan dropped probably the most remarkable transportation news in September when he proposed that I-270 and the Capital Beltway get four new lanes. Private companies would design, build and maintain the lanes, which would then be able to charge tolls. Some local leaders have been skeptical about the plans, preferring less-expensive reversible lanes […]

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Top 10 Stories from July 7-13

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Changes at a local shopping center and blooming sunflowers topped our Top 10 list this week. We had several public safety stories included the ongoing legal proceedings on Catherine Hoggle’s competency and the sentencing of a man who went on a shooting spree. Construction of a bridge over I-270 got underway. A bridge over the […]

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UPDATED: Hogan Administration Proceeds with Watkins Mill Interchange

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The Hogan administration has released contract documents for the Watkins Mill Interchange, a long-sought connection along Interstate 270 that had been the subject of jockeying between local politicians and the governor’s office. The project, which could have a total cost of about $130 million, is the subject of legislation that would take the unusual step […]

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Governor Hogan Announces Emergency Legislation to Repeal Road Kill Bill (VIDEO)

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At a news conference today at the State House, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan said the administration’s top legislative priority for the 2017 session of the Maryland General Assembly is the immediate and full repeal of House Bill 1013, more commonly known as the Road Kill Bill. The governor was joined by Maryland Transportation Secretary Pete […]

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County Report This Week (VIDEO)

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Watch County Report This Week for coverage of the Stand Up for the Montgomery Way rally, an update on taser use by the Montgomery County Police Department, and more:

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Floreen Discusses Election Results, Liquor Authority and More at News Briefing (VIDEO)

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At her weekly briefing on Monday, Montgomery County Council President Nancy Floreen discussed a variety of topics including the “Stand Up for the Montgomery Way” rally, election results, term limits, the county’s Triple-A bond rating, the state’s transportation program, the proposed independent Liquor Authority, the landlord tenant bill, the Economic Development Corporation, the subdivision staging […]

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Sonya Burke

About Sonya Burke

Sonya Burke is the Multimedia Manager at Montgomery Community Media (MCM). You can email story ideas at sburke@mymcmedia.org or reach her on Twitter @SonyaNBurke.

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