Sunday, October 16, 2022

New traffic pattern for Montgomery Avenue in Bethesda set to begin October 24


The traffic pattern on Montgomery Avenue east of Wisconsin Avenue (MD 355) will change on or about October 24, 2022. Digital billboards have been posted on Montgomery Lane to announce the change. They do not specify what the new traffic pattern will be, however. Protected bike lanes were recently installed on the street, alongside the new Avocet Tower development and AC Hotel by Marriott.



7 comments:

JAC said...

Yes, as I had mentioned here this week. That has been a real bone of contention and the orange cones, etc have been there unchanged for nearly 3 years. We need to know what this new pattern will be . Count on it being made worse not better. The bike lanes are the most ridiculous addition to the other side of Montgomery and are never used. I drive there daily. Again, an entire travel lane was taken out. You tell me if these measures aren't anti car. People say, oh no, they're pro biking and walking. Uh-huh. That's anti car stated more politely. You are that, right?

Anonymous said...

Additional signage seems to indicate that they are temporarily closing the right two lanes on Montgomery to construct the protected bike lanes from Woodmont to Wisconsin, and remove the dangerous slip lane from Montgomery to southbound Wisconsin.

I wonder how the plan to put two way traffic back on East West Highway, Old Georgetown Road, Woodmont Avenue and this Montgomery is coming along. It was a specific item in the Downtown Bethesda Sector Plan to improve the street grid and eliminate higher speed travel on this poorly planned one way loop. Many downtowns are in the process of removing these one-way loops to create better and safer circulation in walkable urban areas.

JAC said...

6:41 - Yes, and now that seems like a pipe dream now. Is there any indication that will ever happen? No, not now and not with major roadways being narrowed and/or entire lanes being taken away. This is insane. Voters, remember, there is a way forward. This upcoming election cannot see Elrich being reelected. We won't make it. That's 4 more years of this.
They are doing these crazy things now? Just wait until they near the end of the next term.
At this point, what does anyone have to lose voting for Reardon? Not much and there's plenty to gain. This is one item on a long and growing list. It's getting scary folks.

Anonymous said...

The other issue that just came to mind. Isn't there going to conflict between people unloading etc and cyclists. My experience with cyclist is that they do not like to stop. They want cars to stop for them but they seem to resent pedestrians and scooters. And I used to cycle a lot but this was before the Bike Lobby.

JAC said...

11:02 - You're making too much sense. Perfect observations. Someone else said Bike Lobby to me recently and that's spot on what it is.

Anonymous said...

Any road closures during construction will surely include taking up one lane to provide free parking for construction worker's personal vehicles, as we've seen on Old Georgetown and Wisconsin when lanes have been taken away.

Anyone else noticed the mess on Woodont in front of the new Marriott and Tastee? They took away all parking/stopping lanes from that side of the street, so you have just a single travel lane going that direction. But of course, places like hotels and restaurants have deliveries and drop-offs/pick-ups, so the sole lane going that direction is often blocked, forcing drivers to enter incoming traffic just to proceed.

JAC said...

4:48 - Active word is, mess.