Nighttime Construction Work On Hungerford Drive

If you will be driving on or around Hungerford Drive at night next week, be prepared for road closures.

The center and right lanes on southbound Hungerford Drive between Beall Avenue and East Middle Lane will be repaved begining on Monday, October 11, 2010 and continuing Wednesday, October 13th. The repaving project includes the intersection of Hungerford Drive/Rockville Pike (Rt. 355) and East Middle Lane.

The construction work by City contractor, M.T. Laney Company, will occur at night between 9 PM and 5 AM.

Intersection of Hungerford Drive, East Middle Lane, Park Road

The work will begin at Beall Avenue and continue south toward East Middle Lane. Two travel lanes along southbound Hungerford Drive will be closed.

During construction, expect nighttime lane closures on Hungerford Drive, East Middle Lane, Park Road, and North Stonestreet Avenue. Some on-street parking will be restricted. If you are close-by, expect some construction noise too!

POTD: Gobble.

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I know. I know. It’s not even Halloween yet. But doesn’t this bunch of lumber, if squint, remind you of a turkey’s tail feathers? Or maybe a peacock.

If you squint.

POTD: Big Toy

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I think everyone wants one of these, don’t you think? This one is at Chestnut Lodge.

POTD: Blast Off!

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These PVC conduits look like the exhaust trails from a group of fireworks going up into the sky, or maybe the Blue Angels.

Town Square Tiles To Be Replaced

>From the “Thank You About Time” department, the City has announced that the tiles in the walkways at Town Square by Gifford’s and Five Guys are going to be replaced.

Perhaps you will recall a Photo Of The Day from back in February titled “Slippery People.” It was by Rockville Central friend Eric Jensen and featured the really, really slippery tiles pictured at left.

Soon, these ceramic banana peels will shuffle off this mortal coil, according to the City:

Beginning April 7, and lasting for approximately two weeks, tile work will take place in the pedestrian vias at Rockville Town Square. The “vias” are the walkways that connect the parking garages to the Town Center Plaza. The parking garages, all retail outlets and restaurants will remain open during construction. Additionally, pedestrian access will be maintained from the garages to the plaza.

Completion of work is expected by Thursday, April 24.

FRIT (Federal Realty Investment Trust) has hired a contractor to complete the tile work, which is necessary because the tiles become slippery when they are wet. The tiles that are in place will be demolished and removed at all three locations. A new and safer natural stone material will then be installed.

POTD: Jersey

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No, not the state. I am still in my industrial phase. I learned these are called K-Rails, but that’s just out west. Around these parts, they are Jersey Walls.

POTD: Industry

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Growing up, as I did, in Detroit, I just dig industrial sites with lots of machines.

POTD: Whoa, Nelly!

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(With apologies to Nelly Furtado.) Like seemingly all young boys, I love construction equipment and this specimen caught my eye the other morning.

POTD: Thick As A Brick

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(Apologies to Jethro Tull). In a certain light, this pile of bricks at a home remodeling site struck my fancy.

Chestnut Lodge: Video From The Inside

>Rockville Central friend Brigitta Mullican sent along a link to a really interesting story on Channel 5. It’s an inside peek at Chestnut Lodge, which is being developed into a subdivision. According to the station:

“For the first time, we’re getting a look inside an infamous piece of history in our area. For years the Chestnut Lodge in Rockville housed mentally-ill patients, some of them rich and famous, and now the doors are opening once again and you might be surprised at the new tenants.”

Go here for the story (video). Or, if you just want the tour, go here.

POTD: Vivid

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I just love the bright colors on the dumpster and Porta-Potty here.

POTD: Stakeout

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This stake suddenly appeared on my lawn yesterday. Those initials, which stand for “Right Of Way,” worry me! Look, I already have a sidewalk.

POTD: Blink And You'll Miss It

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The rising tide of falling homes continues. These POTD’s were taken less than a fortnight apart.

ICC: Ready, Set, Go! Sort Of.

After fifty years of debate, it looks like the controversy is finally drawing to a close. Construction for the Intercounty Connector is scheduled to begin on Tuesday.>

But, as there are still one or two pesky lawsuits pending (scheduled to be decided shortly after an October 29 hearing), work won’t begin in earnest. According to WTOP:

“We are not going to be turning dirt. It will be mostly putting up signs and erecting a field office for the work,” says Valerie Burnette Edgar, spokesperson for the Maryland State Highway Administration.

The first stretch of work will be on the part of the ICC closest to Rockville, running from I-370 (better known as That Interstate That Doesn’t Go Anywhere Else But The Rio) to Georgia Ave.

POTD: Lovely Frieda

>Frieda’s Cottage at Chestnut Lodge, getting its face lift from Peerless Rockville. (Photo courtesy Rockville Central friend Kari Keaton.)

(Apologies to the Beatles.)