I now have details from Regency Centers regarding the "Road Closed to Thru Traffic on/about 02/17/23" digital signboards that appeared recently on Westbard Avenue in Bethesda. What is going to happen on or about February 20, 2023, is that Ridgefield Road will effectively become a cul-de-sac at Westbard Avenue. A vehicle driving downhill on Ridgefield from the intersection with Newington Road toward Westbard will not be able to make a right turn onto Westbard (i.e. if attempting to drive to Giant or Bowlero).
If the driver is a resident of the closed-off section of Westbard between Ridgefield and River Road, they will be allowed to make a left turn onto that block. Otherwise, non-residential traffic will be forced to make a U-turn in the Ridgefield-Westbard intersection, and come back up the hill toward Newington. Drivers of large trucks may find themselves stuck in quite a pickle there, if they ignore the signs forbidding truck traffic on Ridgefield, as they often have. My guess is, they will create some additional space at the intersection now to allow for truck maneuvers. Trucks are supposed to be using Goldsboro Road to reach Massachusetts Avenue, and then turn onto Westbard.
"There will likely be a learning curve for both drivers and GPS mapping applications to recognize this change – residents may notice vehicles heading east on Ridgefield Road and/or north on Westbard Avenue, only to turn around once they discover the new closure," an email from Regency Centers advises. Residents of Springfield and Wood Acres who use Ridgefield to reach the Westwood Shopping Center will have to use Massachusetts Avenue to reach Westbard. "The closure may cause some additional time added to your travel, and it is suggested that you plan your route accordingly," the Regency Centers statement says. "Your patience is appreciated."
Turning what is currently the bottom of Ridgefield into a cul-de-sac was suggested to the Montgomery County Department of Transportation about two months ago by several residents of Ridgefield, after cut-through traffic continued to be an issue. Those residents asked why Ridgefield had not been given the same consideration as the block of Westbard between Ridgefield and River, which is closed to thru-traffic at both ends. MCDOT consulted with Regency Centers, the County Department of Permitting Services, and the Montgomery County Police Department. Ultimately, the Ridgefield cul-de-sac proposal "was evaluated and approved by Regency Centers, MCDOT, DPS, and MCPD," Regency Centers reports.
Ridgefield has been closed between Westbard and River since June of last year. The closure is due to utility work related to the new Westbard Square development, and the realignment of Westbard Avenue to meet River Road directly. That work is now expected to be completed in September 2023.
15 comments:
More insane restrictions from MoCo. Why do Westbard and Richfield road residents get preferential treatment? Perhaps MoCo is trying to correct the abominable traffic situation they created.
"and the realignment of Westbard Avenue to meet River Road directly."
But, Westbard Avenue always met River Road directly.
Currently, it is blocked off with Jersey Walls at River Road!
They don't get "preferential treatment". The county has been planning for years to re-configure Westbard Ave. in conjunction with the much-needed re-development of the Westwood shopping center. Those streets need to be closed off in order to complete the street re-configuration. The construction teams could hardly complete their work with thousands of vehicles per day speeding by could they? Once Westbard is re-configured access to the shopping center and the rest of the general area will be fine. So stop your whining.
These are public roads which should be open to the public. Also, why protect Ridgefield and the residential portion of Westbard protected and ignore Ogden Road? Should residents of other streets also request special requirements and restrictions and cul-de-sac formations for our own public roads? The River Road traffic that would have taken Ridgefield to the shopping center will now end up on Ogden, Springfield and Cromwell as drivers figure out how to re-route to Mass Ave. Also, the people who live on Ridgefield, near the Westbard intersection (as well as those on the residential portion of Westbard Ave), are they now expected to drive away from the shopping center, which is a stone’s throw away, and through the rest of the neighborhood streets, to get to Mass Ave and on to Westbard? Does this make sense?
1. Will this closure be permanent? Side note: Westward Square website seems to show a completion date of 2027
@4:55 - that section of Westbard from River Road to Ridgefield will become a permanent cul-de-sac and will probably be renamed, perhaps something like Westbard Lane? - no idea. The turn off River Road that used to be Ridgefield Road will now be Westbard Avenue and it will not line up with Ridgefield Road directly. Check out the plans, it’s very clear.
So 7:28, again, no one is being "protected". Those streets were closed so that the construction of the road realignment could be accomplished without the intrusion of thousands of vehicles per day. Whatever disruption just has to be dealt with as folks see fit. When I lived on Westbard I walked to that shopping center so, no, I would not get in my car and drive all the way around. Some might though. I think you will find that no one will be going down Ogden, or any other street because they will not be able to get to Westwood by going on Ridgefield. It will be closed off. If you don't like it go to any one of the dozen or so other shopping centers in the area and stop whining about it.
Ridgefield Rd / Westbard Avenue intersection had to be closed to allow construction of the new road and to connect it to the shopping center. Regency can hardly complete the construction if cars and trucks are driving through
I don't remember seeing so much outrage over the "Western Work-Around" - reconstruction of the intersection of Old Georgetown Road and Executive Boulevard, which required similar closures.
It's Moco...do we ever expect them to make a reasonable decision regarding roads/traffic?
It's a clown show.
"Richfield" lol. Love it. We all need a good laugh during this craziness.
If Regency would communicate earlier on their plans, that probably would reduce stress. But, they don't care.
Yes - they are being protected - and a Ridgefield cul de sac is a new development; the Westbard Ave residential cul de sac has been mentioned and debated many times (and is even in the plans, I hear) - but a cul de sac on Ridgefield at Westbard is a new twist, even if it is temporary (although there are rumblings now that it may well become permanent; and it’s hard to know which rumors are genuine).
NextDoor discussions indicate that the timing of this Ridgefield cul de sac has been moved up (extended in time length) due to the complaints of the residents on that street (or at least the Ridgefield residents who live near the Westbard corner).
These are public roads, not private driveways designed for the convenience of a few. Construction inconveniences affect everyone in the area and should be minimized, not lengthened in time for the benefit of a few residents who now don’t like that they voluntarily and knowingly chose to live on a busy street.
Of course, the traffic will naturally increase on surrounding roads, and even on the portion of Ridgefield prior to the cul de sac area —-
probably as far as Albia, as residents naturally re-route on their way to the shopping center. I suspect that traffic will also explode in the LF parking lot as drivers look for a quick cut through solution. Did our special residents who demanded that the Ridgefield cul de sac plans start earlier than planned ask LF or Wiod Acres school what they thought of the idea? No, they did not. Do you think that the increased traffic funneled away from Ridgefield/Westbard (in order to benefit a few) is safe for the hundreds of kids at those schools?
Those who bought homes on the residential part of Westbard Ave (and on Ridgefield near Westbard) knew full well that they were buying on a busy street or near a busy intersection. How is that everyone else’s problem? A few residents choose to live on a busy street and now they are surprised and miffed that there’s traffic, or even that there will be more traffic during construction? Sounds like we found the whiners.
Is there a road being constructed on Ogden? If so then perhaps it might need to be closed as well but not sure. There is construction ongoing on Ridgefield as well as Westbard, for sure
This is so funny! There’s no protection only construction. Last I heard there were no roads being built on Ogden, Springfield or Cromwell. Regency has no choice but to build the road to connect to the shopping center
I bought my house on Westbard based in large part on the well-known county plan to eventually close it off in conjunction with the re-alignment. I endured six plus years of traffic speeding past my house. That was part of the bargain which I voluntarily accepted. However, thrown into the bargain was the fact that fully 50% of the vehicles passing my property were breaking some law and should not have been there. There were the 30-50 trucks over 10,000lbs per day, including large semi-trucks, the illegal left and right turners and the speeders. Even when the street had been officially closed off for months you had clueless drivers who couldn't be bothered to read a sign driving down Westbard only to have to turn around and drive back when they got to River. I engaged in self-help by leaving the area. But the old Westbard will never again be a through street so the residents will eventually enjoy some peace and quiet I never did. So the take away for 10:59 and all the other complainers is that things change. Roads get built, re-aligned and, yes, closed. Drivers don't have some constitutional right to perpetual use of every road ever built. This is the way "your democracy" works. Take it up with the MoCo Council if you don't like it.
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