Northwood News ♦ April 2005

Widening the Beltway (I-495)

By Charles Pritchard

The State Highway Administration recently briefed the Indian Springs Civic Association on its plans to add lanes in both directions on the Capital Beltway.  Adding theses lanes will be at the expense of a substantial number of private residences (60-80).  It will also clog up the Beltway during the construction period.

The Indian Springs Civic Association naturally is very interested in knowing which houses are to be sacrificed and doubts were expressed to the SHA briefers as to how much and how long the addition of the lanes will decrease grid-lock on the Beltway.  Other major route in our county widenings have rapidly filled up with traffic as space became available.  Advocates for transit were vocal in their criticism of the additional lanes; however, SHA will make an appeal to the County Executive and Council for their project and there is a good chance the appeal will be successful.   ■