Construction

MD 97 (Georgia Avenue) at Randolph Road

Purpose

• Improve vehicular, bicyclists and pedestrian safety
• Improve Levels of Service
• Increase capacity
• Improve mobility and accessibility for the public

Need

• Inadequate capacity
• Safety for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists
• Inefficient mobility and accessibility
• High accident location
• High Traffic Volumes
• Montgomery County priority project

Overview

• Project Costs
  • Preliminary Engineering – $2.7 M (funded)
  • Construction – $45.8M (unfunded)
  • Right-of-Way Acquisition – $23.8 M (unfunded)

Overview

• Proposed Grade Separation

  Limits:

  • MD 97 From Mason Street on the south to MD 182 (Layhill Road)

    Approximately 1,900 ft

  • Randolph Road From 300 ft west of Judson Road to 500 ft east of Glenmont Circle

    Approximately 2,200 ft

Overview

MD 97 (Georgia Avenue) at Randolph Road

Overview

• Proposed Grade Separation:
  • Randolph Road lowered over 25 ft
  • ADT:
    • MD 97 – 89,250 (2025)
    • Randolph Road – 52,000 (2020)
  • Structures:
    • (1) Structure carrying MD 97 over Randolph Road
    • (4) Retaining Walls

Overview

• Major Utility Relocations:
  • PEPCO (Electric) – 69,000 volts
  • Verizon (Communications) – Major Communications and Fiberoptics
• Complex Maintenance of Traffic Plan:
  • (7) Stages requiring detours to be built to the South to move traffic from the tunnel footprint
• Typical Sections:
  • MD 97
    • (3) 11'–0" lanes each direction with turning lanes
    • 5'-0" outside shoulder, variable width median, sidewalks
  • Randolph Road
    • (2) 11'–0" lanes each way through tunnel
    • On top eastbound – three lanes – lt, lt/thr, rt
    • On top westbound – four lanes – two lt, lt/thr, rt
    • 8'–0" Shared off street pedestrian/bicycle path
    • Sidewalks

Overview

Typical Section – MD 97 (Georgia Ave) North of Randolph Road

Overview

• Profiles:
  • MD 97 raised less than 2 ft above existing grade
  • Randolph Rd depressed approximately 25 ft below existing grade
• Design Status:
  • Plans are approximately 65-70% complete
  • Utility Breakout Project - advance construct PEPCO/Verizon (on-going)
    • (1) Year Design and (2) Year Construction after design is complete
• Right of Way Plats have been issued
• Permits required:
  • Stormwater Management, ESC, DNR Roadside Tree Permit

Overview

Profile – MD 97 Northbound

Project Activities and Schedules

• Location Design Approval – 2002
• Preliminary Engineering Begins – 2003
• Milestone Reviews
  • P.I. Review (30%) – January, 2004
  • Semi- Final Review (65%) – November, 2004
  • Right of Way Plats issued – January, 2007
  • ACTT Workshop September 2007

Major Project Challenges

• Utility Relocations
  • PEPCO and Verizon (Require 2 year Construction)
• Plan of Action:
  • Relocate utilities from beneath the existing intersection to beneath residential streets
    • Judson Road
    • Sheraton Road

Overview

Judson Road (Left) and Sheraton Road (Right)

Major Project Challenges

• Kensington Volunteer Fire Department (KVFD)
  • Property is a total take
  • Replacement site and funding for new facility under negotiations between:
    • Montgomery County
    • KVFD
  • Prior to taking of the Existing Facility
    • A new site or replacement services at existing locations must be provided prior to condemnation

Major Project Challenges

Kensington Volunteer Fire Department

Major Project Challenges

• Complex Maintenance of Traffic
  • Highly urbanized and constrained area
  • Properties tight in all four quadrants
  • 7 Stage MOT including
    • New detour roads to move traffic from footprint of intersection to allow the tunnel structure to be built

Existing Conditions – MD 97 (Georgia Avenue)

MD 97 N. of Randolph Rd Looking South (Left) MD 97 S. of Randolph Rd Looking North (Right)