Dear Council President Stewart and Honorable Members of the Montgomery County Council:
I write to strongly oppose the proposed closure of the intersection of Westbard Avenue and River Road in Bethesda, an area in Councilmember Friedson’s district known locally as the 5500 Westbard Block.
1) The Springfield Civic Association (SCA), which represents the 5500 Westbard Block and the surrounding neighborhood, opposes the closure, testified against it in 2023 and has not petitioned for the intersection to be shut down. The 2016 Westbard sector plan requires that a closure be considered only upon the formal application of the area’s neighborhood association. The SCA has not made such a request and was not consulted or informed of the proposed closure before the Council.
2) The closure is not warranted on the basis of safety. A 2024 Montgomery County traffic study did not find any vehicular or pedestrian safety concerns at the Westbard Avenue/River Road intersection. The recent installation of flex posts prevents unsafe left turns into River Road. Road improvements undertaken in connection with the new Westbard development have successfully diverted retail traffic away from the intersection of Westbard Avenue and River Road. In short, the intersection has never been safer.
3) The closure is not warranted on the basis of under-utilization. While the 2024 County study showed limited use, the intersection does not meet County standards for closure, and ongoing development is expected to increase traffic volumes. In 2026, 32 new townhomes — almost entirely pre-sold as of June 2025 — will be added to the 5500 Westbard Block, resulting in a 133% increase in the number of homes and a comparable or even greater increase in traffic. Over 400 new dwelling units will be completed at Westbard between 2025 and 2027, substantially increasing neighborhood traffic.
4) Closure could adversely affect emergency response for hundreds of homes and residents, including Kenwood Place Condominiums (174 units), the new Kensington assisted living community (116 units) and lower Ridgefield Road. Compromising the safety of these residents is unacceptable.
Please stand with me, the SCA and the Springfield community to oppose the ill-advised closure of the intersection of Westbard Avenue and River Road.
Sincerely,