Traffic Alert: Work Begins on River Road Intersection in Bethesda

Bethesda drivers should prepare for lane closures as the Highway Administration begins an $825,000 intersection improvement project on MD 190 (River Road) at Willard Avenue/Greenway Drive.

Weather permitting; the project should be complete late fall 2016.

Crews will widen eastbound River Road to add a left turn lane onto Willard Avenue, which will improve traffic flow and reduce congestion, according to a news release. Other elements of the project include constructing sidewalk ramps for Americans with Disabilities Act compliance and new curbs and gutters.

Audible and countdown display pedestrian signals will be installed at the MD 190 intersection with Willard Avenue/Greenway Drive. Additionally, SHA crews will upgrade the traffic signals system with new mast arms, signal heads and brighter LED bulbs. The turn lane addition will be one of the final stages of the project in 2016, when the entire roadway will be resurfaced between Ventnor Road and Baltimore Avenue.

Construction crews will be allowed to close one lane in either direction of MD 190 weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. In 2016, when road widening and resurfacing begin, crews may also close one lane of MD 190 overnights, Sundays through Thursdays between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.

More than 17,000 vehicles use this section of River Road daily so there may be traffic delays during construction.

Pedestrian traffic will be maintained at all times. Pedestrians within the work zone may be directed to the safest crossings including those on the opposite side of the street. The contractor for the work is M. Luis Construction Company of Baltimore.