There’s now a more convenient way to cross the street for people using a new sidewalk along a busy stretch of Wisconsin Avenue in Chevy Chase.
The State Highway Administration on Friday activated a pedestrian crossing of the six-lane road at its intersection with Chevy Chase Boulevard.
Pedestrians can push a button to activate flashing warning lights for motorists, who are required by state law to stop when a pedestrian is in the crosswalk.
The crosswalk will allow pedestrians to cross to the west side of Wisconsin Avenue from the .7-mile, $1.1 million sidewalk on the east side, along a fence of the Chevy Chase Country Club.
Some nearby residents criticized the state for the project, which meant the loss of 58 trees along a stretch known as the “Green Mile.”
The State Highway Administration said it planned to plant about 45 new trees along the stretch.
Sidewalk supporters said it would provide a safe path for bicyclists and somewhere to stand for those who use the Ride On bus stop on the east side of the road.
The project won the support of the Chevy Chase West neighborhood when state road planners added the crosswalk. Without it, those who use the sidewalk could’ve been forced to cross at Bradley Lane or Dorset Avenue, the two closest traffic signals that are a little less than a mile apart.
New pedestrian crosswalk at Wisconsin Avenue and Chevy Chase Boulevard along Chevy Chase's "Green Mile." Credit: Aaron Kraut
