Indian Head Highway (Fort Washington, Brandywine: how much, construction, live) - Calvert County, Charles County, Montgomery County, and Prince George's County - City-Data Forum

pgtvatitans · 05-23-2012, 08:33 PM

I was at a community meeting tonight and one of the residents informed us that there are plans to start making improvements to Indian Head Highway. I was a bit skeptical just because Indian Head Highway has been such a hot button topic for years in this county and just knew that we would have heard something in the paper, but apparently I was wrong. One of the posters posted this a few months ago (I think it was Phyxius), but there was a proposal made in 2004 for Indian Highway to basically change all of the intersections in Oxon Hill and Fort Washington so that the highway would become an expressway similar to Branch Avenue. Well after about 8 years apparently someone has gotten some money, plans and whatever else to get this started. According to this website, the project has already finished it's planning stages. When you go on the site, click on the maps section and you will see what I'm talking about.

Seems rather drastic change that is to be made on Indian Head, but I'm wondering how smart this is. I understand the need to do this to improve traffic with the mall coming, but building overpasses at all these intersections will take years upon years.

So with all that said, what are your thoughts on this? What do you think about the lack of media coverage of this project? Is this the best time to do this project and do you even think this project is realistic?

UrbanScholar · 05-24-2012, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgtitans

I was at a community meeting tonight and one of the residents informed us that there are plans to start making improvements to Indian Head Highway. I was a bit skeptical just because Indian Head Highway has been such a hot button topic for years in this county and just knew that we would have heard something in the paper, but apparently I was wrong. One of the posters posted this a few months ago (I think it was Phyxius), but there was a proposal made in 2004 for Indian Highway to basically change all of the intersections in Oxon Hill and Fort Washington so that the highway would become an expressway similar to Branch Avenue. Well after about 8 years apparently someone has gotten some money, plans and whatever else to get this started. According to this website, the project has already finished it's planning stages. When you go on the site, click on the maps section and you will see what I'm talking about.

Seems rather drastic change that is to be made on Indian Head, but I'm wondering how smart this is. I understand the need to do this to improve traffic with the mall coming, but building overpasses at all these intersections will take years upon years.

So with all that said, what are your thoughts on this? What do you think about the lack of media coverage of this project? Is this the best time to do this project and do you even think this project is realistic?

To me re-configuring 210 makes perfect sense and should have begun when they originally finalized the plan. Considering the number of fatalities that have occurred over the years having fly-overs and incorporating pedestrian walkways are very necessary to support the growth of the area. Especially since car dependency in this area won't subside anytime soon. As for it starting soon I haven't seen any indicators of that. The Kerby Hill design phase has been on the books for a while and it is still ranked in the mid teens on the state priorities. So it would appear that it won't begin for another 3 to 5 years. Did your neighbor give more specifics?

pgtvatitans · 05-25-2012, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UrbanScholar

To me re-configuring 210 makes perfect sense and should have begun when they originally finalized the plan. Considering the number of fatalities that have occurred over the years having fly-overs and incorporating pedestrian walkways are very necessary to support the growth of the area. Especially since car dependency in this area won't subside anytime soon. As for it starting soon I haven't seen any indicators of that. The Kerby Hill design phase has been on the books for a while and it is still ranked in the mid teens on the state priorities. So it would appear that it won't begin for another 3 to 5 years. Did your neighbor give more specifics?

She kept saying that it was going to start soon. I wasn't too sure how much information she knew about it. I've heard about this before, but I wasn't aware that they were moving forward with this. According to that website they just recently completed the planning phase of the project and this was as of 3/7/2012 and it also says they have design funding for at least the Kerby Hill part. Not sure what all that means, but that is probably more action that project has received in years. I have heard that one of the biggest delays is the state was looking for federal funding so I'm not completely sure how far they have gotten with that, especially considering like you said, it's not considered a priority. I do remember Baker saying at one of those meetings that he wants to make 210 a bigger priority so maybe things are changing?

I will say this, I agree that it is a good project and it is necessary but I think the timing is horrible because we're looking at the possibility of having the Oxon Hill Road construction, the outlet mall and this going on at the same time. If they do wait another 3-5 years, it would probably be better, but it seems like the push may come because of the anticipated mall traffic.

UrbanScholar · 05-26-2012, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pgtitans

She kept saying that it was going to start soon. I wasn't too sure how much information she knew about it. I've heard about this before, but I wasn't aware that they were moving forward with this. According to that website they just recently completed the planning phase of the project and this was as of 3/7/2012 and it also says they have design funding for at least the Kerby Hill part. Not sure what all that means, but that is probably more action that project has received in years. I have heard that one of the biggest delays is the state was looking for federal funding so I'm not completely sure how far they have gotten with that, especially considering like you said, it's not considered a priority. I do remember Baker saying at one of those meetings that he wants to make 210 a bigger priority so maybe things are changing?

I will say this, I agree that it is a good project and it is necessary but I think the timing is horrible because we're looking at the possibility of having the Oxon Hill Road construction, the outlet mall and this going on at the same time. If they do wait another 3-5 years, it would probably be better, but it seems like the push may come because of the anticipated mall traffic.

Waiting to get Federal assistance with a project of this size does make sense. The design phase of a transportation project can take a minute and that would have to be finalized before any construction happens. And the construction phase has to have an approved budget. That said I don't see it starting until 2 to 3 years from now.

wisedisguise · 05-28-2012, 04:02 PM

I live a scant mile from Branch avenue and construction didn't take that long though it has made the drive south easier. What is really bothersome - the counties down south continue to develop with no concerns about the traffic congestion up here in PG county. Routes 5 and 210 are the major arteries and only so much can be done up here to alleviate traffic. The condition of the road surface on Rt 5 from 495 to Brandywine is the worst I have seen in 25 years due to the amount of traffic the road sees on a daily basis; the word 'pothole' doesn't come close to describing it. I drive a pickup truck and the road takes it's tolls on my tires and suspension. Front end alignments are needed almost yearly. I can't imagine what a compact car goes through. You can look forward to much of the same on 210.