It involves the lengthening of acceleration & deceleration lanes in Frederick County
Baltimore, Md (KM). The next step in the $100-million Interstate 270 Innovation Congestion Management project is underway.
The State Highway Administration says it involves one project in Frederick County and two in Montgomery County Spokesman Charlie Gischlar says crews are removing and replacing the top level of asphalt along southbound I-270 at the interchange with Route 80 (Fingerboard Road), and restriping the highway which will extend the two lanes. In addition, a similar project is taking place at southbound I-270 at Old Hundred Road. At that location, the restriping will mean the extension of the acceleration lane.
Gischlar says these changes will make it easier for motorists to get on and off of I-270 during the morning rush. And it will also let drivers who are heading down the highway who are not getting off at either stop to continue without having to slow down to let traffic merge or get off of I-270. “The sooner you can get off, the better. When you start having people merging on, that’s what slows the traffic up. So if you get them off quicker, you’re able to move traffic on that interstate a lot faster, a lot more efficiently,” he says.
There’s also a project underway at I-270 near I-370. It will also involve the removal of the top layer of asphalt. “The innermost dedicated turn lane to I-370 will be converted to a ramp lane, or a through option, which is giving you an extra through movement on that actual highway on the interstate,” says Gischlar. “So that’s going to providing drivers with improved access to exit on I-370, and also through that interchange, on actual I-270.”
The work on all three projects is being done during the overnight hours. Single lane closures on southbound I-270 at Route 80 will take place from 10:00 PM to 4:00 AM Mondays through Thursdays.. The closures along Old Hundred Road (Md. 109) will be from 10:00 PM until 5:00 AM Mondays through Sundays. The hours for necessary double and single lane closures will be 10:00 AM until 4:0 PM, Mondays through Sundays.
Gischlar says the work is expected to be completed by early 2019.
Approximately 225,000 vehicles travel that stretch of I-270 each day, according to the SHA.
The entire I-270 ICM project is expected save drivers up to 30-minutes during their morning commute, officials say.
By Kevin McManus