This project provides for the replacement of the existing Piney Meetinghouse Road Bridge over Watts Branch. The existing bridge, built in 1950, is a single-span concrete T-Beam structure carrying a 24' roadway. The proposed replacement bridge includes a single-span prestressed concrete New England Extreme Tee (NEXT) beam structure carrying a 24' roadway and a 4' shoulder on each side. This width will allow for the implementation of safe on-road bicycling, in accordance with the Master Plan. The project includes approach roadway work at each end of the bridge as necessary to tie-in to the existing roadway. The bridge and road will be closed to traffic during construction. Accelerated bridge construction techniques will be utilized to minimize the disruption to the traveling public and local community.

The roadway Average Daily Traffic (ADT) is approximately 5,400 vehicles and the roadway capacity will not change as a result of this project.

This project is complete and is awaiting reimbursement from the Maryland Department of Transportation.

The proposed replacement work is necessary to provide a safe roadway condition for the traveling public. The 2011 bridge inspection revealed that the concrete T-beams are in poor condition. All beams have several horizontal cracks with heavy efflorescence approximately 2 inches below the underside of the deck. The beams have several isolated spalls with exposed rebar. The undersides of the beams have moderate to severe scaling with exposed stirrups at several locations. All four wingwalls have a 1'-6" high band of minor scaling above the waterline. There is heavy efflorescence and spalls for both abutments. The bridge is considered structurally deficient. Implementation of this project would allow the bridge to be restored to full capacity. The Potomac Subregion Master Plan designates Piney Meetinghouse Road as Arterial (A-34) with a minimum right-of-way of 80'. The Countywide Bikeways Functional Master Plan calls for dual bikeway shared-use path and signed shared roadway (DB-23). A review of impacts on pedestrians, bicyclists, and the requirements of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1991) has been performed and addressed by this project. Streetlights, crosswalks, sidewalk ramps, bikeways, and other pertinent issues are being considered in the design of the project to ensure pedestrian safety.

The design costs for this project are covered in the Bridge Design project (No. 509132).

The costs of bridge construction and construction management for this project are eligible for up to 80 percent Federal Aid. In FY18, $270,000 in GO Bonds were transferred to the Park Valley Road Bridge Project (P501523).

A pedestrian impact analysis has been completed for this project.

Federal Highway Administration Federal Aid Bridge Replacement/Rehabilitation Program, Maryland State Highway Administration, Maryland Department of the Environment, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Montgomery County Department of Permitting Service Utilities, Bridge Design Project CIP 509132