Traffic Alert: Emergency Repairs Close MD 185; Find Alternate Route

Due to extremely poor driving conditions and the need for emergency pavement repairs, the Maryland State Highway Administration on Tuesday closed two lanes of northbound MD 185 (Connecticut Avenue) from the DC line to MD 410 (East West Highway) in Chevy Chase.

According to a news release, crews expect to complete paving along northbound MD 185 late Thursday and immediately cross over onto southbound MD 185 Thursday night or early Friday morning. All six lanes on this section of MD 185 are expected to be paved by Saturday night, weather permitting.

With two northbound MD 185 lanes expected to be closed Wednesday and Thursday during the afternoon rush hours and two southbound MD 185 lanes expected to be closed for the Friday morning rush hour, traffic is expected to be severely affected, authorities said.

Drivers should consider MD 355 (Wisconsin Avenue) or other alternate routes, highway officials said.

About two weeks ago, as part of the overall $2.5 million safety and resurfacing project between MD 410 and the DC line, crews milled off the top two inches of asphalt to prepare for final resurfacing. Crews found the road base pavement to be in an advanced state of deterioration, meaning the asphalt originally planned to be used could not be applied as a stronger, more fibrous mix was needed to offset the deterioration.

In order to complete paving and due to the deteriorated condition of the road that made the driving conditions very poor, the contractor determined closing two lanes until the paving work could be completed was the only safe option. The travel lanes in this section of MD 185 are narrow and one lane is not sufficient enough space to perform the work.

More than 46,000 vehicles use this 1.5-mile section of MD 185 daily.