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Intercounty Connector - ICC - Press Releases
Straight Scoop: SHA Settles EDF Appeal - Final Legal Hurdle for ICC Removed
The Maryland Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) State Highway Administration (SHA) announced today that it has reached an agreement with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) that removes the final legal challenge facing the Intercounty Connector (ICC). The EDF has withdrawn its appeal of a November 2007 U.S. District Court ruling, after SHA agreed to augment its extensive environmental stewardship program with two additional air quality programs. Read More
The Straight Scoop: Why the ICC is A Worthwhile Investment
The Straight Scoop: Sometimes all the information does not make into a media story, or mistakes are made in reporting the news, all of which can confuse the public. In those situations, the ICC wants to set the record straight. Maryland State Highway Administrator Neil J. Pedersen answers Baltimore Sun columnist Dan Rodricks' recent commentary and blog (op-ed 9/21, blog 10/2) on the ICC. A worthwhile investment ICC will reduce Marylanders' commute times and save lives, while environmental impact minimized By Neil J. Pedersen October 10, 2008 Despite recent claims to the contrary, Maryland's Intercounty Connector - expensive though it surely is, at $2.4 billion - will deliver a very strong return on investment to Maryland residents, including many residents of the Baltimore metropolitan area. According to U.S. Census data, more than 130,000 people from greater Baltimore commute to the Washington area every day, many to jobs on the Interstate 270 technology corridor. Traffic forecasting illustrates the enormous benefit these travelers will experience from the ICC. The ICC will provide a much-needed link from BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport to the Washington metropolitan region, ensuring long-term economic benefits for Maryland. In addition, the ICC will save a full hour for those commuting round-trip from just south of Baltimore to Gaithersburg. Think about it: If the ICC is not built, Baltimore-area residents making that trip would be robbed of additional 10 days per year better spent with family or on other pursuits. Other Maryland travelers will experience similar time-gaining benefits. For a variety of routes, morning commute times are projected to decline by 25 percent to 50 percent by 2030 as compared with conditions expected if the ICC is not built. Fundamentally, the ICC is about moving people and goods by providing transportation choices. Boosting transit usage is a core mission for the Maryland Department of Transportation. To that end, convenient, time-saving express bus service on the ICC will increase transit ridership in the corridor by an estimated 38 percent, to a total of 11,500 passengers per day. The ICC is also expected to yield an often-overlooked benefit: safety. The absence of the long-planned ICC has left tens of thousands of travelers to map their own de facto ICCs - patching together routes of winding, two-lane directional roads never intended for cross-county trips. Many of these roads are without shoulders, have poor sightlines and are lined by homes with driveways that spill directly into the path of high-velocity commuter traffic. The ICC is expected to reduce crashes on nearby roadways by approximately 350 incidents per year. But if these benefits came at the cost of unmanageable environmental impact, Gov. Martin O'Malley would not support the project. That is why we are investing $370 million in environment efforts that not only fully mitigate the project's environmental impacts but also provide enhancements that go beyond what is required. For example, where the highway crosses streams and wetlands, its footprint will be narrowed and longer-than-typical bridges will be built. Elsewhere, impacts to natural areas will be addressed by creating scores of acres of wetlands, restoring several miles of streams, removing or otherwise bridging man-made blockages that prevent fish from reaching spawning areas, and reforesting hundreds of acres. Parkland will be replaced at nearly a 9-to-1 ratio. The project will also correct many man-made environmental problems that are unrelated to the highway, including upgrading facilities to treat and slow the flow of stormwater that courses off thousands of acres of development built during the past half century. It should also be noted that fuel economy will improve and greenhouse gas emissions will decline for vehicles that will be diverted from stop-and-go traffic on local roads to the ICC. Those who discount the ICC's benefits and environmental focus - as The Baltimore Sun's Dan Rodricks did recently - urge that funds to build the ICC be reprogrammed to other uses. Many important priorities face major daunting financial hurdles, but canceling the ICC to provide for them defies reality for two key reasons. First, the $2.4 billion ICC financial plan is designed specifically for that project, and those funds cannot simply be redirected. For example, toll revenue bonds account for more than half of the funding and cannot be used for non-tolled purposes. In fact, less than 8 percent of ICC funding is drawn from the annual source of road and transit projects, specifically so it would not excessively burden the transportation fund. Second, the ICC project is well beyond the point where it could be canceled. A year into construction, approximately 30 percent of the first seven-mile leg has been completed, and this segment will open in two years. Three contracts that will build nearly 18 miles of the 18.8-mile highway are under way or nearly so, and major construction progress is plain to see in many locations along the corridor. The on-schedule ICC project will be finished in late 2011 or early 2012. In short, we are building the ICC because it will deliver major benefits to generations of Marylanders and do so in an environmentally sensitive manner. Neil J. Pedersen is the Maryland state highway administrator. His e-mail is shaadmin@sha.state.md.us. Read More
W. Shady Grove Rd. Construction Accident - UNRELATED to ICC
The Straight Scoop: Sometimes all the information does not make into a media story, or mistakes are made in reporting the news, all of which can confuse the public. In those situations, the ICC wants to set the record straight. W. Shady Grove Rd. Construction Accident - UNRELATED to ICC On Monday afternoon, August 4, a construction crane tipped over on its side while installing noise barriers along westbound Shady Grove Road between Midcounty Highway and Interstate 370 in Gaithersburg. No injuries were reported. The crane is the property of Concrete General, Inc. Concrete General is under contract by Montgomery County to install the noise barriers along Shady Grove Road. This incident and related work is unrelated to the Interconty Connector. If you have questions regarding the ICC, please call the ICC toll free Hotline at 1-866-462-0020. Read More
Construction Update: Contract A
View the lastest Contstruction Update for Contract A Read More
TRAFFIC ALERT:Night Work Along Shady Grove Road
Beginning Sunday night, June 22 and continuing weeknights for up to six weeks, the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) will install twelve 140-foot-long concrete beams over Shady Grove Road south of Tupelo Drive/Epsilon Drive to construct a new bridge as part of the $2.4 billion Intercounty Connector (ICC) project. Read More
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Intercounty Connector - ICC - Contract A News
Traffic Alert: State Highway Administration To Temporarily Close Lanes Along Shady Grove Road For New Icc Bridge Construction
Beginning Sunday, November 16, weather permitting, between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) will close two lanes along both southbound and northbound Shady Grove Road from I-370 to MD 115 (Muncaster Mill Road). The lane closures will occur over the course of four nights and are necessary to construct the Intercounty Connector (ICC) bridge over Shady Grove Road. Read More
ICC Facts on the Ground: October 31, 2008
One Year Into Construction: Enormous Progress SHA started building the ICC fall 2007 and major construction continues steadily.Contracts to build 17.9 miles of the 18.8-mile ICC are underway, representing $1.5 billion in work. As of the end of September, approximately $569 million of the project budget has been spent. Contract A, seven miles of the ICC between I-370 and MD 97, is more than 30 percent complete and on schedule to finish fall 2010.Contract B, seven miles of highway beginning at MD 97 to just west of US 29, has been issued a Limited Notice to Proceed (LNTP), with construction slated for late January 2009.Contract C, west of US 29 to I-95/US 1, has been under construction since late spring 2008 with steady progress.The first ICC environmental mitigation project, a newly created wetland along Bonifant Road, has been completed.The first environmental stewardship project, which includes several stormwater management improvement projects, has been awarded and a Notice to Proceed (NTP) is expected November 2008.The remainder of the ICC is on schedule to finish late 2011/early 2012.SHA has purchased, or is in the process of buying, approximately 96 percent of the needed 400 right-of-way parcels.Major progress is readily apparent along the length of the ICC. Pier formwork on MD 97 Bridge in Contract A. Forming footer at headwall for 60-inch pipe in Contract C. Designed as a passage for wildlife, Mill Creek runs through this BEBO culvert in Contract A. Read More
ICC Fact Sheet
The following is the latest information regarding the progress of the Intercounty Connector. If you have questions, please call toll free: 1-866-462-0020, or click here for an email response. Read More
TRAFFIC ALERT:Night Work Along Shady Grove Road
Beginning Sunday night, June 22 and continuing weeknights for up to six weeks, the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) will install twelve 140-foot-long concrete beams over Shady Grove Road south of Tupelo Drive/Epsilon Drive to construct a new bridge as part of the $2.4 billion Intercounty Connector (ICC) project. Read More
The Straight Scoop: ICC Not to Blame for Shady Grove Road Area Power Outages
The Straight Scoop: Sometimes all the information does not make into a media story, or mistakes are made in reporting the news, all of which can confuse the public. In those situations, the ICC wants to set the record straight. Correction for Montgomery Sentinel - July 2, 2008 Police say ICC construction caused power outages - FALSE http://www.thesentinel.com/357294626228210.php In the July 2, 2008, edition of The Montgomery Sentinel, the reporter incorrectly reported that Montgomery County police cited the ICC as the source for a June 30 power outage. Police spokesperson Lucille Baur said police did not identify the ICC as the source of the power outage to the Sentinel reporter. While construction equipment hit a power line on Shady Grove Road, it was not work related to the ICC, but a Montgomery County construction project. If you have questions regarding the ICC, please call the ICC toll free Hotline at: 1-866-462-0020. Read More
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Intercounty Connector - ICC - Contract B News
ICC Facts on the Ground: October 31, 2008
One Year Into Construction: Enormous Progress SHA started building the ICC fall 2007 and major construction continues steadily.Contracts to build 17.9 miles of the 18.8-mile ICC are underway, representing $1.5 billion in work. As of the end of September, approximately $569 million of the project budget has been spent. Contract A, seven miles of the ICC between I-370 and MD 97, is more than 30 percent complete and on schedule to finish fall 2010.Contract B, seven miles of highway beginning at MD 97 to just west of US 29, has been issued a Limited Notice to Proceed (LNTP), with construction slated for late January 2009.Contract C, west of US 29 to I-95/US 1, has been under construction since late spring 2008 with steady progress.The first ICC environmental mitigation project, a newly created wetland along Bonifant Road, has been completed.The first environmental stewardship project, which includes several stormwater management improvement projects, has been awarded and a Notice to Proceed (NTP) is expected November 2008.The remainder of the ICC is on schedule to finish late 2011/early 2012.SHA has purchased, or is in the process of buying, approximately 96 percent of the needed 400 right-of-way parcels.Major progress is readily apparent along the length of the ICC. Pier formwork on MD 97 Bridge in Contract A. Forming footer at headwall for 60-inch pipe in Contract C. Designed as a passage for wildlife, Mill Creek runs through this BEBO culvert in Contract A. Read More
ICC Fact Sheet
The following is the latest information regarding the progress of the Intercounty Connector. If you have questions, please call toll free: 1-866-462-0020, or click here for an email response. Read More
Frequently Asked Questions - Contract A Interim Connection to MD 28
The ICC Team is pleased to provide the following answers to Frequently Asked Questions on the ICC construction contracts. These questions are presented in the following four groups: General Project StatusInterim Connection to MD 28Traffic OperationsAir Quality Read More
Look for the spring 2008 ICC Connector in the mail! Click here to preview.
Update for residents and Commuters Spring is bringing milder temperatures and a boost in Intercounty Connector (ICC) construction activity. But the ICC Team has been far from idle during the fall and winter months; in fact, full-scale work began last fall when the first segment Contract A started preparing for heavier construction. In January, soon after the design-build contractor, ICC Constructors (IC3), was selected for Contract C, construction activities began in that segment, as well. Read More
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Intercounty Connector - ICC - Contract C News
Traffic Alert: State Highway Administration Shifts Traffic Along Southbound I-95 For Intercounty Connector Construction
Beginning Monday, November 17, weather permitting, between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) will shift southbound traffic along I-95 south of MD 198 (Sandy Spring Road) to MD 212 (Calverton Road). The total shift will occur over the course of three nights, with double lane closures required to facilitate the switch. Travelers headed south during the three nights should expect delays and consider using the Baltimore Washington Parkway as an alternative. Read More
ICC Facts on the Ground: October 31, 2008
One Year Into Construction: Enormous Progress SHA started building the ICC fall 2007 and major construction continues steadily.Contracts to build 17.9 miles of the 18.8-mile ICC are underway, representing $1.5 billion in work. As of the end of September, approximately $569 million of the project budget has been spent. Contract A, seven miles of the ICC between I-370 and MD 97, is more than 30 percent complete and on schedule to finish fall 2010.Contract B, seven miles of highway beginning at MD 97 to just west of US 29, has been issued a Limited Notice to Proceed (LNTP), with construction slated for late January 2009.Contract C, west of US 29 to I-95/US 1, has been under construction since late spring 2008 with steady progress.The first ICC environmental mitigation project, a newly created wetland along Bonifant Road, has been completed.The first environmental stewardship project, which includes several stormwater management improvement projects, has been awarded and a Notice to Proceed (NTP) is expected November 2008.The remainder of the ICC is on schedule to finish late 2011/early 2012.SHA has purchased, or is in the process of buying, approximately 96 percent of the needed 400 right-of-way parcels.Major progress is readily apparent along the length of the ICC. Pier formwork on MD 97 Bridge in Contract A. Forming footer at headwall for 60-inch pipe in Contract C. Designed as a passage for wildlife, Mill Creek runs through this BEBO culvert in Contract A. Read More
ICC Fact Sheet
The following is the latest information regarding the progress of the Intercounty Connector. If you have questions, please call toll free: 1-866-462-0020, or click here for an email response. Read More
The Straight Scoop: On Gazette's Wednesday, 06-25-08 story on Sherview Lane
The Straight Scoop: Sometimes all the information does not make into a media story, or mistakes are made in reporting the news, all of which can confuse the public. In those situations, the ICC wants to set the record straight. Correction for Gazette - June 25 Story Neighborhood may not get ICC sound barrier http://www.gazette.net/stories/062508/wheanew194048_32369.shtml In the June 25, 2008, edition of The Gazette, the reporter incorrectly identified Old Columbia Pike as US 29 (Columbia Pike), when reporting on the probability of sound walls for Sherview Lane. This error has since been corrected, but a few more details require clarification. Please note that the most recent highway design at US 29 shows the ICC going over US 29 (Columbia Pike) and under Old Columbia Pike and that noise modeling of the final alignment/concept is required to determine whether a sound wall is required or not. The noise analysis at Sherview Lane of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) alignment determined that the residential area along Sherview Lane did not meet SHA?s criteria for a sound wall under SHA guidelines. The ICC design at Old Columbia Pike, adjacent to Sherview Lane, is depressed some 30 ft into the ground, with the ICC going under Old Columbia Pike. Old Columbia Pike is proposed to be relocated immediately to the east of the existing road so that local traffic can be maintained while constructing the new Old Columbia Pike bridge over the proposed ICC. This design visually and audibly reduces the impact to homes on Sherview Lane. Residences qualify for a sound barrier (are impacted) if the projected noise level is at least 66 dBA, or they experience at least a 10 dBA increase over the existing peak noise levels. The noise reduction from the barrier is not a criterion that determines whether we investigate a barrier; it is another reasonableness criterion for determining whether an analyzed barrier is "reasonable" to be built. The criteria for this is that the barrier provides at least a 7 dBA reduction in noise levels. If you have questions regarding the ICC, please call the ICC toll free Hotline at: 1-866-462-0020. Read More
Construction Update: Contract C
View the lastest Construction Update for Contract C. Read More
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Intercounty Connector - ICC - Contract D News
ICC Facts on the Ground: October 31, 2008
One Year Into Construction: Enormous Progress SHA started building the ICC fall 2007 and major construction continues steadily.Contracts to build 17.9 miles of the 18.8-mile ICC are underway, representing $1.5 billion in work. As of the end of September, approximately $569 million of the project budget has been spent. Contract A, seven miles of the ICC between I-370 and MD 97, is more than 30 percent complete and on schedule to finish fall 2010.Contract B, seven miles of highway beginning at MD 97 to just west of US 29, has been issued a Limited Notice to Proceed (LNTP), with construction slated for late January 2009.Contract C, west of US 29 to I-95/US 1, has been under construction since late spring 2008 with steady progress.The first ICC environmental mitigation project, a newly created wetland along Bonifant Road, has been completed.The first environmental stewardship project, which includes several stormwater management improvement projects, has been awarded and a Notice to Proceed (NTP) is expected November 2008.The remainder of the ICC is on schedule to finish late 2011/early 2012.SHA has purchased, or is in the process of buying, approximately 96 percent of the needed 400 right-of-way parcels.Major progress is readily apparent along the length of the ICC. Pier formwork on MD 97 Bridge in Contract A. Forming footer at headwall for 60-inch pipe in Contract C. Designed as a passage for wildlife, Mill Creek runs through this BEBO culvert in Contract A. Read More
ICC Fact Sheet
The following is the latest information regarding the progress of the Intercounty Connector. If you have questions, please call toll free: 1-866-462-0020, or click here for an email response. Read More
Look for the spring 2008 ICC Connector in the mail! Click here to preview.
Update for residents and Commuters Spring is bringing milder temperatures and a boost in Intercounty Connector (ICC) construction activity. But the ICC Team has been far from idle during the fall and winter months; in fact, full-scale work began last fall when the first segment Contract A started preparing for heavier construction. In January, soon after the design-build contractor, ICC Constructors (IC3), was selected for Contract C, construction activities began in that segment, as well. Read More
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Intercounty Connector - ICC - Contract E News
ICC Facts on the Ground: October 31, 2008
One Year Into Construction: Enormous Progress SHA started building the ICC fall 2007 and major construction continues steadily.Contracts to build 17.9 miles of the 18.8-mile ICC are underway, representing $1.5 billion in work. As of the end of September, approximately $569 million of the project budget has been spent. Contract A, seven miles of the ICC between I-370 and MD 97, is more than 30 percent complete and on schedule to finish fall 2010.Contract B, seven miles of highway beginning at MD 97 to just west of US 29, has been issued a Limited Notice to Proceed (LNTP), with construction slated for late January 2009.Contract C, west of US 29 to I-95/US 1, has been under construction since late spring 2008 with steady progress.The first ICC environmental mitigation project, a newly created wetland along Bonifant Road, has been completed.The first environmental stewardship project, which includes several stormwater management improvement projects, has been awarded and a Notice to Proceed (NTP) is expected November 2008.The remainder of the ICC is on schedule to finish late 2011/early 2012.SHA has purchased, or is in the process of buying, approximately 96 percent of the needed 400 right-of-way parcels.Major progress is readily apparent along the length of the ICC. Pier formwork on MD 97 Bridge in Contract A. Forming footer at headwall for 60-inch pipe in Contract C. Designed as a passage for wildlife, Mill Creek runs through this BEBO culvert in Contract A. Read More
ICC Fact Sheet
The following is the latest information regarding the progress of the Intercounty Connector. If you have questions, please call toll free: 1-866-462-0020, or click here for an email response. Read More
Look for the spring 2008 ICC Connector in the mail! Click here to preview.
Update for residents and Commuters Spring is bringing milder temperatures and a boost in Intercounty Connector (ICC) construction activity. But the ICC Team has been far from idle during the fall and winter months; in fact, full-scale work began last fall when the first segment Contract A started preparing for heavier construction. In January, soon after the design-build contractor, ICC Constructors (IC3), was selected for Contract C, construction activities began in that segment, as well. Read More
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