Purple Line-related Fenton Street closures in downtown Silver Spring (Photos)

Purple Line construction has created a traffic and business owner nightmare on Fenton Street in the vicinity of Downtown Silver Spring and Ellsworth Place mall. Vehicular access is entirely cut off or severely limited between Roeder Road and Bonifant Street. There is an unexplained, massive pile of gravel in the intersection of Fenton and Wayne Avenue. The temporary closure of that intersection has been extended to about September 5, 2025, due to "unforeseen utility conflicts." 

Watch for Wayne Avenue lane closures near Sligo Creek Parkway next week

Watch for temporary lane closures on Wayne Avenue near its intersection with Sligo Creek Parkway next week. On or about Monday, July 28, 2025 through Thursday, July 31, Purple Line crews will implement extended-hour lane closures. Crews will use flaggers at the Wayne Avenue and Sligo Creek Parkway intersection to facilitate crane movement and girder placement at the Sligo Creek bridge. Lane closures and flagging may take place from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. on each of the closure dates. Pedestrian access will be maintained at all times. Please follow posted signage and directions from flaggers in the construction zone. 

Bonifant St. Purple Line work zone shifts in Silver Spring

The work zone for the Purple Line light rail project on one segment of Bonifant Street has shifted in downtown Silver Spring. Now barricades on the left side of eastbound Bonifant between Georgia Avenue and Fenton Street have been taken away, and the work zone has moved to the right side of the street. Access from Georgia is one-way eastbound. However, be aware that the entire street may shut down at times, as needed. Periodic nighttime work may take place between 8:00 PM and 5:00 AM, as necessary. Follow all signage, detours, and flagmen posted in the area.

Temporary closure of NB Dale Dr. at Wayne Ave. in Silver Spring starting April 8

A temporary closure of northbound Dale Drive at Wayne Avenue in Silver Spring will begin on or about Tuesday, April 8, 2025. The closure is anticipated to continue through April 11. It is necessary to allow utility work related to the Purple Line to be completed. Watch for directional signage in the area during the closure.

Purple Line work requires month-long lane closure on NB Carroll Avenue at University Boulevard

Purple Line light rail-related work will require a month-long lane closure on Carroll Avenue at its intersection with University Boulevard E. starting March 4, 2024. The right-turn lane on northbound Carroll Avenue will be closed during that period, from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and on nights and weekends when necessary. You will still be able to turn right onto University, but anticipate brief delays, and watch for signage and any instructions from flagmen. The lane closure is necessary as workers build new curbs and pedestrian islands, and repave the roadway, the Maryland Transit Administration said in a statement.

Tree removal to impact traffic on part of Cedar Avenue Wednesday in Takoma Park

A tree removal in the 7200 block of Cedar Avenue in Takoma Park tomorrow, Wednesday, May 25, 2022 will impact traffic for an extended period of the day. Because a crane is being brought in for the work, expect temporary and extended lane and road closures. The tree contractor will have signage and flagmen on duty to assist drivers, but it's probably smartest to simply detour around the mess, as it's not the widest street to begin with.

Road work causes lane closures on Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring (Photos)

Road work closed multiple lane closures near the 8500 block of Georgia Avenue last night in downtown Silver Spring. Strangely, the lane closures were not listed on the Maryland State Highway Administration's CHART alert page for state highways like Georgia Avenue (MD 97). This suggests either a failure on the SHA or contractor's part, or that the work was related to an unexpected emergency.

Washington Gas project scheduled for Takoma Park

Watch for lane closures near 7316 New Hampshire Avenue in Takoma Park in the evening next week. Washington Gas will be installing a new service line at that location starting on Monday, February 14, 2022. One lane will be closed at a time, as the pipe is laid underneath the roadway. Work hours will be 9:00 PM to 5:00 AM. The project is expected to take four nights to complete, weather permitting.

Barron Street lane closures in Long Branch next week

Watch for lane closures on Barron Street in the Long Branch area of Silver Spring next week. The affected segment of Barron is between Piney Branch Road and Gilbert Place. Lane closures are currently scheduled to begin Monday, October 18, 2021, and will last approximately one week, weather permitting. Work hours will be Monday-Friday from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and on weekends, if necessary. Watch for flaggers directing traffic during this Purple Line-related utility relocation project.

Wayne Avenue utility relocation scheduled for Thursday in Silver Spring

Heads-up for drivers traveling Wayne Avenue in Silver Spring later this week: On or about Thursday, February 25, 2021, Purple Line-related utility relocation will take place at the intersection of Wayne and Cloverfield Road. The work is expected to take place over one night, from 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM. Watch for lane closures in that area.

Purple Line-related lane closures ahead in Silver Spring

Plymouth Tunnel under construction
in Long Branch

Construction of the Purple Line is ramping back up, and the increasing volume of work means some lane closures are ahead in two spots along the future light rail route. Starting on or about March 1, 2021, watch for temporary lane closures along Wayne Avenue between Manchester Road and the E. Wayne Avenue entrance to the Plymouth Tunnel in Long Branch. 

Utility relocations will be the cause there, taking about two months between the hours of 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM on weekdays. Night and weekend work will be scheduled, if necessary.

Starting on or about March 3, the westbound right lane of University Boulevard will be closed between Riggs Road and Guilford Road. This long-term closure is also related to utility relocations that are expected to take three months to complete, barring significant weather delays. Work there will take place between 7:00 AM and 4:00 PM weekdays, and on weekends if necessary. Access to businesses and private driveways along that stretch of University will be maintained throughout the project.

Photo via MTA

Utility work ahead on 16th Street in Silver Spring

Here's a traffic alert as we head into the Christmas week from the Maryland Transit Administration, related to the Purple Line. Starting on or about December 21, 2020, crews will perform underground and overhead utility relocations on 16th Street (MD 390) between Lyttonsville Road and Spring Street for about four weeks, weather permitting. Work may take place from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. Temporary closures of the southbound right-hand lane will be necessary.

Weekend work on Colesville Road in downtown Silver Spring

Be prepared for temporary lane closures this weekend on Colesville Road between Draper Lane and Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring. Purple Line contractors will be striping the pavement along that stretch of Colesville from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM this coming Saturday, December 12 and Sunday, December 13. The Maryland Transit Administration says access will be maintained to homes and businesses during the work.

Purple Line lane closure on Wayne Avenue in Silver Spring, weekend work possible

The right eastbound lane on Wayne Avenue (MD 594A) from Mansfield Road to Sligo Creek Parkway will be closed for about six weeks for Purple Line-related utility relocations. Ride On bus stop #27070, located at the southeast corner of Wayne Avenue and Mansfield Road, will be relocated to the southwest corner of Wayne Avenue and Mansfield Road while the lane closure is in effect. 

Due to the heavy rain this week, and in the future, some work may have to be shifted to weekends. Work hours on weekends will be between 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM.

University Boulevard lane closures to begin next month for Purple Line between Takoma Park & Adelphi

A major lane closure is coming to University Boulevard starting next month, as Purple Line construction continues along that corridor. The right-hand lanes of University in both directions will close for an extended period between New Hampshire Avenue and West Park Drive. This closure will begin on or about March 3, 2020.

Westbound Bonifant Street lane closure postponed in Silver Spring

A planned lane closure on westbound Bonifant Street for Purple Line-related construction has been postponed. Originally expected to begin this past weekend, the closure has now been rescheduled for January 6. 2020. The closure will impact westbound Bonifant Street between Ramsey Avenue and Georgia Avenue.

The closure is expected to last about three months. Purple Line Transit Partners did not give a reason for the delay, one of several recent work postponements on the light rail project.

Purple LIne updates for Silver Spring, Lyttonsville

Watch out this month for temporary lane closures on Wayne Avenue between Dale Drive and Sligo Creek Parkway for truck deliveries to Silver Spring International Middle School between 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM on weekdays and weekends. Crews will also be clearcutting trees and performing utility work along Wayne Avenue, between Fenton Street and Sligo Creek Parkway.

Purple Line contractors will be installing fencing and drainage systems along Talbot Avenue toward 16th Street on the edge of downtown Silver Spring. This work will be conducted during business hours on weekdays and weekends. There may be night work in the Lyttonsville Bridge area on any night this month, except on holidays.

Georgia Ave./Randolph Rd. lane closures start tonight at interchange project in Glenmont

Prepare for traffic jams along Georgia Avenue in Aspen Hill, Glenmont and Wheaton this weekend. The Maryland State Highway Administration says Georgia and Randolph Road will both be reduced to one lane open in each direction from 9:00 PM tonight, to 5:00 AM Monday morning. This is to allow extensive work on the Georgia Avenue-Randolph Road grade-separated interchange, which has been underway for more than a year at the intersection.

New lanes will be striped, and new traffic signals will be activated, while the old signal posts will be dismantled and removed. Should inclement weather thwart SHA plans this weekend, the work will be performed the weekend of July 31, instead.

The unbuilt Rockville Freeway and Northern Parkway would certainly have come in handy as detours this weekend.

Rendering courtesy MD State Highway Administration