Street Beat: MD 355 Resurfacing Project

The State Highway Administration (SHA) is continuing its commitment to improving road conditions in Montgomery County. Beginning this week, SHA will start a new $2.6 million safety and resurfacing project on MD 355 (Wisconsin Avenue) between MD 191 (Bradley Boulevard) and Montgomery Avenue in Bethesda. Weather permitting, work should be complete next fall.

When complete, the improvements within the half-mile project limits will link to current projects underway on MD 355 from the D.C. city line (Western Avenue) to Bradley Boulevard and from Montgomery Avenue to Jones Bridge Road.

“Motorists should add extra time to their daily travels in this area,” said Brian W. Young, SHA District 3 Engineer. “Lane closures for all three projects will be coordinated to ensure traffic flow through the area. SHA thanks travelers for their patience during construction.”

As part of the work, SHA will:

Improve drainage to help prevent standing water on the roadway; Construct American with Disabilities (ADA) compliant sidewalk and sidewalk ramps Construct new curb and gutter and; Upgrade traffic signals with new mast arms, signal heads, audible pedestrian signals (APS) and countdown pedestrian signals (CPS) at the intersections of MD 355 and Montgomery Avenue, Elm Street and Bethesda Avenue.

Starting this week, crews will begin daytime lane closures for drainage improvements, curb and gutter, sidewalk and sidewalk ramp work. Crews may close a single lane in both directions of MD 355, weekdays, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Beginning next spring, crews may also close up to two lanes in both directions of MD 355 for resurfacing, overnight, Sunday through Thursday, between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. All work is weather permitting.

On average, 67,000 vehicles travel daily within the project limits. SHA’s contractor for the work is Ardent Company, LLC of McLean, Va. SHA will maintain pedestrian access within the work zone. Residents and travelers are advised that equipment used for construction can be loud and disruptive.

This project was made possible with funding from the Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act of 2013, which maintains crucial system preservation investments and allows Maryland to activate long-term strategies to invest in Maryland’s transportation systems.

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