Montgomery County s land use planning process is nationally recognized as a model for tackling the difficult issues of growth, development, and congestion. Our master planning process includes, as a critical element, extensive input from citizens and the neighborhoods affected. While historically there had been discussions of additional Potomac bridge crossings, these were taken off regional maps in the 1960s in response to concerns raised by officials in Virginia. Any bridge, along with associated highways, would violate almost 30 years of master plans in Montgomery County premised on no additional river crossings in the County. Associated highways .
Bridges have to be connected to roads on either end.
The impact of such an associated highway on existing neighborhoods and the County s agricultural preserve needs to be factored into any serious study. All the Options . Among additional options that should be considered is another eastern crossing of the Potomac and the Point of Rocks widening, as well as examining increased use of mass transit and demand reduction measures. The widening of the existing crossing at Point of Rocks, Maryland may have potential to draw a number of cars from upper Montgomery County and Frederick into a reverse commute in the morning, relieving traffic heading south on I-270. Comparisons with similar projects elsewhere .