Rock Creek Stream Valley Park – Wexford Drive and Beach Drive Intersection
Division: Park Development
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Project Description
This project studies and proposes improvements to the safety and operation of the Wexford Drive and Beach Drive intersection in Kensington. The parkway is in the Rock Creek Hiker-Biker Trail corridor within Rock Creek Stream Valley Unit#4.
Background
In response to citizen concerns about the difficulty of making a left turn from Wexford Drive onto Beach Drive during rush hour, The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) initiated a traffic study of the intersection. Montgomery Parks’ project team is exploring a range of options and is reviewing potential short term and long term solutions to minimize the delay for left-turning vehicles, as well as reducing the number and severity of accidents occurring at this location. Parks staff also met with the State Highway Administration and Department of Transportation regarding various improvements at the Beach Drive & Knowles Avenue (MD547) intersection, directly to the south, which is anticipated to reduce the queuing of traffic through the Beach Drive & Wexford Drive intersection.
Please review these frequently asked questions for more details on the project.
Status/Project Update:
August 2022 Update
In late summer / early fall 2022, Montgomery Parks will begin construction of safety improvements at the Rock Creek Trail crossing of Wexford Drive as well as additional traffic calming enhancements along Beach Drive from Wexford Drive to Garrett Park Road. Work will include safety and accessibility upgrades at the crosswalk, re-striping of westbound Wexford Drive at Beach Drive into two drive lanes, a barrier separating a segment of the Rock Creek Trail from Beach Drive, and improvements to the parking pull-off along Beach Drive north of Wexford Drive. Beach Drive will remain open during construction, which is anticipated to last 3-4 weeks. Drivers and park users are advised to use caution and follow maintenance of traffic measures during construction.
Montgomery Parks hosted a community meeting on February 13, 2020, to present study results and possible improvements and gather public comments. Links to the presentation and meeting summary are below.
Project next steps include:
Montgomery Parks planned work:
| Project | Status |
| Repair street light at the intersection of Beach Drive and Wexford Drive | Completed, Fall 2020 |
| Rock Creek Trail Vision Zero Crossing and Wexford Drive restriping to divide westbound Wexford Drive into two lanes | In design and scheduled for installation in FY22 |
| Traffic Calming between Garrett Park Drive and Knowles Avenue | In design and scheduled for installation in FY22 |
| Parks worked with MDOT SHA and MCDOT on lane configuration and signage at Knowles Avenue and Beach Drive. | Completed, Fall 2021 |
| Wexford Drive and Beach Drive Intersection Reconfiguration | Preferred concept plan expected in FY22. There is no construction schedule currently. |
Other Agency Projects:
WSSC Beach Drive 30” Water Main Replacement: Li Ling at 301-206-8745
SHA Knowles Ave and Beach Drive Intersection Improvements: Natasha Aidoo at NAidoo@mdot.maryland.gov .
MCDOT Garrett Park Road Bridge: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dot-dte/projects/garrettparkrdbridge/index.html
Calendar and Meeting Notes
Links to review meeting notes and presentations will be attached to each applicable calendar event as it is scheduled and completed.
| Event | Date | Location |
| Winter 2020 | ||
| Thursday, February 13, 2020, 7 p.m. | Community Meeting
View the presentation |
Rock Creek Palisades Elementary School |
| Fall 2020 | Parks working with MDOT SHA and MCDOT in the Planning Phase |
* Date and time subject to change. Please confirm the schedule with Montgomery Parks Staff
M-NCPPC Staff Contact
Jennifer Bruneau, PE, LEED AP, ENV SP
M-NCPPC Park Development Division – Environmental Engineering
Jennifer.Bruneau@MontgomeryParks.org
Office: (301) 495-2568