One of the new sidewalks along the realigned Westbard Avenue has opened to pedestrians at River Road in Bethesda. The access point between River and Westbard also allows for new views of the construction of the realigned segment of Westbard Avenue itself, which replaces the 5100 block of Ridgefield Road. Construction is scheduled to be completed by the end of next month, at which time the intersection of "Westbard & Westbard" is supposed to reopen to traffic.
19 comments:
good, more areas for people to panhandle or set up tents
And just to drone on, the people in this community fought every attempt by Montgomery County to replace the “Dilapidated” 60’s shopping center and replace it with a new one. CRAZY !
Lots camping along the woods around the CCT and on benches at night. Litter is increasing, of course, as well
The sidewalk to 'nowhere' is wider than the street.
10:23: I don't recall any opposition to building a new shopping center. The controversies were about the addition of over 1000 residential units to a 1.5 block area, and the lack of public benefits and amenities offered in the 2016 Westbard sector plan in exchange for the upzoning impacts on schools and infrastructure.
Robert is correct. The concern was focused on the impact of schools and public benefit. Not sure this is going to create more panhandlers as one reader suggests. And it isn't like that area was pristine. It looks like a highway. But the developers should have paid for school expansion and for other impacts on the community.
Just to clarify, construction of this road is most definitely not scheduled to be completed by the end of September. The developer's current estimate is March 2024. There's a possibility that the road could partially open, one lane in each direction, in October or November, but it's doubtful that MCDOT will allow this.
In particular, the intersection of "Westbard & Westbard" will definitely not open before the Spring.
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain (@5:31AM). Or is that the scarecrow?
do you actually think Westbard Rd will reopen next month? I'll hold my breathe but this will be a huge quality of life increase for local neighborhoods off Mass Ave. I am sick of turning left onto LFP from Mass at rush hour
You are, of course, correct Robert. I lived on Westbard and everyone I knew, including me, was very much in favor. Folks get an idea in their head (like 1023) and can't let it go despite a lot of evidence to the contrary.
The newly realigned Westbard Avenue which will run from Mass to River is set to open in October. Old Westbard at River is never reopening - Old Westbard and Ridgefield will connect to the newly realigned Westbard Road in March.
5:08: So did Regency and MCDOT lie to us when they said Springfield neighborhood access from Ridgefield to the commercial area on Westbard would reopen in September 2023? They said the whole street grid would reopen in September (minus the closure at the end of Westbard at River).
Not sure - it was always my understanding that work would start on residential Ridgefield and Westbard in the summer (which is occurring) and would take
longer. They just closed Ridgefield
Prior to work starting on that alignment due to the neighborhood SCA request to do so. As you can see, now the work is starting on it so will take longer.
6:41: If they miss the September deadline, it will be a scandal for Regency and MCDOT, as the whole justification for this unprecedented closure of a community's street grid was that it would allow them to complete the project faster. There wasn't even any snow over the winter! They're out of excuses, and almost out of time to get everything reopened by September 30.
I would reach out to Montgomery County permitting services - I believe they recently said that an October opening is expected for the realigned Westbard Avenue, and a spring opening for the reconnection of the “old Westbard” and Ridgefield Road to the new Westbard Avenue.
3:41: Do you know where this announcement was made, and why the community wasn't informed about it? If true, it will be a scandal.
I don’t believe any official announcement was made, but confirm with Chris Conklin or Adam Curtin from permitting (they are in charge of Regency’s permit) and will be able to confirm timeline and prior/current expectations.
You’re correct - the timeline doesn’t make sense with Ridgefield closing in https://sites.google.com/site/springfieldweb/
Come take a look at the state of things out here, and ask yourself if you think it'll be ready in 6 weeks. There's not a chance in hell.
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