Year-Long Paving Project Begins on Inner Loop in Bethesda

Beginning this month, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) will resurface nearly six miles of the inner loop of I-495 (Capital Beltway) between I-270 and the Seminary Road overpass (west of MD 97/Georgia Avenue) in Montgomery County.

The project will begin in mid-June and last approximately one year--officials said they hope it will be complete by summer of 2017, weather permitting, according to a press release.

Officials said in a effort to reduce traffic, paving will be done at night.

“The contractor will work at night to reduce construction-related congestion. We ask that motorists keep safety in mind and slow down," said SHA District Engineer Brian Young.

SHA’s contractor, F.O. Day, Inc. of Rockville, will patch, grind (remove the top layer of asphalt), resurface and restripe 5.9 miles of the inner loop of I-495.

Other work that will part of the $9.5-million project includes:

• Repairs to the bridge decks (driving surfaces) of MD 185 (Connecticut Avenue) over I-495, and Kensington Parkway over I-495, by providing an asphalt overlay to improve ride quality;
• Upgrade and replace guardrail; and
• Repair, clean and upgrade storm water management inlets and pipes.

Officials said motorists should expect single- and double-lane closures beginning at 9 p.m. most nights, and triple-lane closures overnight beginning at midnight during paving operations, scheduled for spring 2017. SHA will use barrels and arrow boards to guide travelers safely through the work zone.

Young said this section of the Beltway was last resurfaced in 1997, and has an average traffic volume of 230,000 vehicles daily.

“The pavement on this particular section of the Capital Beltway has outlived its life and needs to be resurfaced to help the ride quality for the hundreds of thousands of people who travel on it each day,” he added.

A complete listing of current roadway projects is included in e-Road Ready 2016, the online brochure.

Maryland drivers can also "know before they go" by calling 511 or visiting www.md511.org for live traffic updates, including construction delays and lane closures.