Resurfacing Project on I-270 Could Cause Lane Closures Through Late Fall

Bethesda Magazine ^ | September 20, 2017 | Bethany Rodgers

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Motorists on Interstate 270 could start seeing lane closures next week as construction crews begin resurfacing and restriping a highway spur that leads to the Beltway.

The work marks the beginning of a $100 million project to ease traffic backups on the roadway, according to state transportation officials.

“This is the first step in a major project to break daily gridlock,” Maryland Transportation Secretary Pete K. Rahn said in a prepared statement.

The initial phase of the effort involves surfacing improvements on the section of I-270 that connects with the outer loop of the Beltway.

The project, which is expected to wrap up late in the fall, will also eliminate a left lane drop where I-270 feeds into I-495 and provide three lanes along the I-270 spur, a press release stated. Workers will change the signage along this road section to reflect the new lane configuration.

Crews are allowed to work on the Beltway’s outer loop Sunday through Thursday nights. Officials say single-lane closures are possible starting at 9 p.m., and drivers might encounter double- or triple-lane closures beginning at 11 p.m. All lanes will be open again by 5 a.m.

On southbound I-270, motorists could see single-lane closures from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and double lane closures later in the evening. Workers will reopen the lanes by 5 a.m., in time for morning commuters, a press release stated.

The release also reported that single-lane closures have been scheduled for southbound I-270 on weekends between 5 and 10 a.m.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Maryland “Freak State” PING!

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Construction begins on Md.’s $97.7 million I-270 Watkins Mill Road interchange (7/19)

[relee]

Repaving in late fall is brilliant!

I-270 should be smooth for at least a few weeks before the ploy boys tear it up.

[Viking2002]

Sweet Lord, I’m so glad I don’t have to drive that mess anymore. Knowing Maryland, they’ll eff it up and it’ll still be in progress four years from now. That’s another good reason why I sneak in through Winchester and Berkeley Springs and catch 68 in Hancock.

[MilesVeritatis]

Same here. I no longer have to fight the 270/495 interchange or the “Frederick Bottleneck” farther north on 270. I’m much happier and enjoying more time in my life outside of a car.

[Jimmy Valentine]

I won’t work. The infrastructure, no matter what they propose will never be big enough to handle the traffic load that is there already.

[fruser1]

The best thing to improve traffic there would be to get rid of HOV.

[bus man]

The best thing to improve traffic there would be to get rid of HOV.

Au contraire. The best thing would be to follow Virginia's lead and extend the HOT lanes all around the Beltway, and link them up to the ones on I-270 (converting them from HOV to HOT). Those lanes should also be constructed on I-66 west to I-81 and on I-95 north through Baltimore and beyond and on U.S. 50 east to the Bay Bridge.

That way, carpoolers and those whose time is worth the money to use those lanes can speed along to their destination, while those whose time is worth less than the money needed to use those lanes (or the inconvenience of joining a car pool) can continue to use the congested "free" lanes.