Watkins Mill Interchange Will Be Complete in 2 Years

[Mr Beco]

Originally Posted by dkf747

How many years does it take from talking about it to actually building it? Things take way too long.

They've been talking about this for at least 10+ years. They built the houses on one side, that's progress.

[Mr Beco]

State Highway Administration spokesman David Buck said the Watkins Mill Interchange is a “massive” project that has been in its engineering phase since August. Buck said the state plans to complete the engineering phase in 2014.

“When you’ve got a significant amount of retaining walls and all these culvert crossings and all these moorings we have to do, that plays into the two-year process,” Buck said.

Construction would not begin until 2015 or 2016, he said. Because the design of the interchange is still in its preliminary stage, Buck said it would be “a complete guess” as to how long it would take to build the project.

“It would be much further into design until we have any idea how long it would take,” he said.

SHA also must take into account a small stream, which runs parallel to I-270. The stream will be restored as part of the interchange project, Buck said.

“Much as we did with the ICC [Intercounty Connector], we take care of the environment when we’re in the area,” he said.

A separate development south of the planned interchange, Watkins Mill Town Center, is also in progress.

“It’s a combination of residential and commercial, which includes both office and retail,” Schlichting said. “There’s an urban core element which has not yet started construction.”

The Parklands, a residential community planned for Watkins Mill Town Center, is under construction. The community will be primarily townhomes and condominiums, he said.

“There’s development happening both east and west” of the interchange, Balcombe said. Th

[wildcat3]

I looked at the first row of townhouses years ago when they were just built (I think it was December 2009?). The salesperson was totally honest in saying there was no guarantee when the interchange would be built and that the downtown Watkins Mill wouldn't be built until the interchange was built.

I think the townhouses looked great however.

[MidValleyDad]

Originally Posted by $mk8795

It does not take 5 years to build an interchange, it takes between 1.5 to 2 years to build an interchange depending the size/style of the interchange...

'Building' isn't the problem - clearing the obsticals is. Environmental impact, NIMBY, funding, change of state administration, change of focus, etc, etc

[Mr Beco]

Originally Posted by MidValleyDad

'Building' isn't the problem - clearing the obsticals is. Environmental impact, NIMBY, funding, change of state administration, change of focus, etc, etc

Especially in Montgomery County, Maryland. I've seen projects held up because of rabbits.

[Mr Beco]

Originally Posted by wildcat3

I looked at the first row of townhouses years ago when they were just built (I think it was December 2009?). The salesperson was totally honest in saying there was no guarantee when the interchange would be built and that the downtown Watkins Mill wouldn't be built until the interchange was built.

I think the townhouses looked great however.

Back in the late 80's, I use to say the same thing about the Montrose Road expansion. Low and behold, they built the damn thing. Almost 25 years later, I was proved wrong.....

[aofan44]

It sounds like a decade long project. I just hope that it will happen..not a blank check...

[Mr Beco]

Originally Posted by aofan44

It sounds like a decade long project. I just hope that it will happen..not a blank check...

end of the decade I think....