The lane shift slated for a busy section of Rockville Pike near Cedar Lane has been delayed for a third time, this time because of freezing temperatures.
The State Highway Administration said the lane shift would start at 7 p.m. Tuesday. But according to Montgomery County, the record-low temperatures mean the SHA can’t put down new pavement markings necessary for the shift:
FROM MD SHA: Forecasted low temperatures impacting placement of pavement markings will delay traffic shift at MD355 / Cedar Lane to March 3- BRAC-Bethesda MD (@BracMoCoMD) February 24, 2015
The SHA removed the median along Rockville Pike just north and south of its intersection with Cedar Lane/West Cedar Lane. The removal of the median was to allow traffic officials to shift the six thru-lanes of Rockville Pike slightly to the west, allowing for the first portion of an underground culvert replacement project on the east side of the road.
The lane shift was originally supposed to happen in January, but weather issues moved it back to last week. Snow last week moved it back to Tuesday. Now the freezing temperatures have moved it back to March 3, according to Montgomery County.
Sidewalks will remain open and turning movements from West Cedar Lane onto Rockville Pike won’t be impacted. But turns from northbound Rockville Pike to West Cedar Lane will be restricted for the rest of the year and probably well into 2016.
In the late spring or early summer, the SHA expects to shift traffic again as a second phase of culvert work starts under the middle portion of the road. Northbound traffic will move back to the right and southbound traffic will remain where it was during the first phase.
There will be a third phase a few months after that during which crews replace the culvert on the southbound side of Rockville Pike. Southbound traffic lanes will shift back to the east.
Photo via J.D. Mack
