The project, which has been designated the “Number 1 Transportation Priority for Montgomery County,” is slated to begin construction in the early spring of 2016 and the estimated completion date sometime in 2018. The road construction project has spurred on two residential and commercial developments.
Watkins Mill Road Extended:
The project will connect Watkins Mill Road east of I-270 to Frederick Road/Maryland Route 355 and, ultimately, to the Metropolitan Grove station and interim terminus for the Corridor Cities Transitway. In the future, the State will build an interchange at I-270 and Watkins Mill Road to relieve congestion at the Maryland 124/I-270 interchange, and the Frederick Road/Montgomery Village Avenue and Quince Orchard Road/Clopper Road intersections. Watkins Mill Road Extended will be a six-lane highway that includes a sidewalk, a bike path and street lighting.
Residential and Commercial Developments:
Sitting on 200+ acres, Watkins Mill Town Center, is slated to include 4.5 million square feet of Class A office space, a hotel, restaurants, retail and more than 2,200 homes and apartment units. Currently, the residential component of the project, The Parklands, is the fastest selling residential community in Montgomery County.
The Spectrum at Watkins Mill is a $270 million, 40-acre, mixed-use urban village. Strategically located at the intersection of Watkins Mill Road and MD Route 355, The Spectrum is situated at the heart of Montgomery County’s I-270 bio-tech corridor.
Project Timeline:
Today: Planning completed.
September, 2015: Engineering completed, including stream restoration and structure plans.
September, 2015: Solicitation of road construction bids.
February, 2016: Road construction begins.
September, 2018: Traffic allowed on Watkins Mill Extended.