Allan Cohen realized there was a problem when he was at the Potomac Community Center one day and the traffic was backed up from the traffic light at the intersection of Falls Road and Tuckerman Lane, nearly a mile away.
“It’s just frustrating to see all these people backed up all the time,” Cohen said. Cohen’s frustration increased when he was told the problem was a result of faulty equipment at the light, but wouldn’t be repaired for months.
The problem, according to Bob Gonzales, traffic Engineer with the Montgomery County Department of Transportation and Public Works (DPWT), is a bad loop detector — the sensor which notes the presence or absence of cars at a traffic light.
The intersection is owned by the state but maintained by the county. Although DPWT has known about the problem, they are waiting for the state to do the repairs as part of a larger project.
“The State Highway Administration has a complete rebuild scheduled,” Gonzales said.
Part of the construction, estimated to cost $10,000, will include replacing the faulty loop detector. “They said they were going to include it as part of their construction,” Gonzales said.
Gonzales explained that when the county is aware of a construction project to be done, it will wait to make its own repairs.
“Why would we replace the detector when they’re about to tear up the road?” he said.
The state plans to add a left-turn signal for drivers on Falls Chapel Way who are turning onto Falls Road. Typically, this type of project is done as a result of cars trying to make a turn being forced to wait for more than one cycle before being able to make their turn.
“Through time has increased to a degree where something like this is necessary,” said Peter Campanides, traffic engineer with the State Highway Administration. “Mostly the problem occurs during rush hours.”
Campanides said that construction on the project is slated to begin “on or about” July 1, and will take about one month to complete.
Work usually happens between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. A lane closure is likely at some point during the process.
“When we do closures, we try to do it at a time that’s least disruptive,” Campanides said.