SHA Crews to Shift Lanes on Rockville Pike in Bethesda This Month

UPDATED State Highway Administration (SHA) crews are shifting traffic lanes on MD 355 (Rockville Pike) for a new traffic pattern at the West Cedar Lane intersection beginning this month. Traffic on MD 355 between North Drive and Locust Hill Road is scheduled to shift to the west side of the road where widening of MD 355 recently took place.

While SHA plans to maintain three through lanes in both directions during peak travel times, drivers should remain alert for a changing traffic pattern at the intersection.

According to a news release, SHA recently removed the concrete median at the MD 355/Cedar Lane intersection. This work will allow crews to construct a new underground culvert beneath northbound MD 355 travel lanes. Most of this work will occur in the median of MD 355, requiring SHA to restrict left turns from northbound MD 355 to West Cedar Lane. This temporary left turn lane restriction will be in place through the remainder of the overall project.

Turning movements from West Cedar Lane onto northbound and southbound MD 355 should not be impacted by this phase of work and nearby sidewalks and trails will remain accessible. The shift was originally scheduled for last month, but was postponed due to inclement weather. Later this year, all traffic will shift to the east side of the road to continue the culvert work.

The $13.8 million intersection improvements at MD 355 and Cedar Lane involve widening northbound and southbound MD 355 (Rockville Pike) at the Cedar Lane intersection to provide new travel and turn lanes.

New traffic signals will be in place at the MD 355 intersections with Wilson Drive, North Wood Road, Elmhirst Parkway and Cedar Lane. Additional improvements include sidewalk and a bike path. Weather permitting, construction will be complete in late summer 2016.

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