Midcounty Highway and the Master Plan Update

Montgomery County has a traffic Master Plan and since 1967, Midcounty Highway, also called M-83, on the master plan shows a southern extension of Midcounty Hwy beyond Shady Grove Rd. As long as it is there, there is a chance this road could be built in the future. There is an opportunity right now to have it taken off the master plan.

In Derwood, the Midcounty extension, also called M-83, would go from Shady Grove Rd. through the right of way currently between the two parks–south of Mill Creek park on Shady Grove Rd. following on through to the north side of Redland park on Redland Rd. The road would be a 4-lane extension of Midcounty Hwy to Redland Rd. with a traffic light there. Then those 4 lanes continue through that light to enter and come off the ICC.

The right of way for this short extension also encroaches into Redland Park. There are links below that show this. This road would destroy the stand of trees with bird and deer habitat between the parks and encroach upon both Mill Creek Towne and Mill Creek South neighborhoods. There would be extra noise from this extension, beyond what we already experience from roads around us. There would also likely be extra light from the intersection and the on/off ramp. Because Shady Grove Rd already provides easy access to the ICC and the Metro station, this very disruptive extension is not needed. 

At this time, the southern extension in Derwood is linked to the northern extension of Midcounty Highway, which would go from Montgomery Village Avenue on up to Clarksburg. The southern extension can be severed from the northern extension and removed from the Master Plan, even if the northern extension remains there. Neither is scheduled to be built at this time. 

Here is a link to county information about it. 

https://montgomeryplanning.org/planning/transportation/highway-planning/master-plan-of-highways-and-transitways/2024-technical-update/

To get a picture of the affected area on the masterplan atlas go to:

https://www.mcatlas.org/mpoht/   

You can also google Midcounty Highway and look at the extension on the southern end. If you look at an aerial street view, you can get a better idea of how close the right of way for the road, shown as trees, is to the homes and parks next to it.

This link shows the road with its required easements: 

https://montgomeryplanning.org/planning/transportation/highway%20-%20planning/highway%20-preservation/    

(you will have to go to the southern end of Midcounty Hwy.)

Opportunities to Comment:

**Sign up to testify:

https://montgomeryplanningboard.org/meetings/signup-to-testify/sign-testify-form/

**Public Hearing

November 14, 2024, 6:30 PM

M -NCPPC Building (2nd floor auditorium)

2425 Reedie Drive, Wheaton, Maryland 20902

**Submit comments by email directly to:        

mcp-chair@mncppc-mc.org or send by US mail to address above, to the attention of Planning Board Chair Artie Harris