What is the ICC?

It’s the Intercounty Connector which would connect Montgomery County and Prince George County. It’s connecting 270 and 95 without having to use 495 to get from one county to another. I think that’s a good thing.

I knew about it, but never fully understood the purpose behind it until I started driving back and forth on 495 to get between 270 and 95. I cringe every time i have to use 495. I really hate 495. Usually I can get lucky and the traffic will let up by the time I pass Georgia Ave, and then it’ll be smooth sailing from there.

Other times, I won’t be quite as lucky and get stuck in traffic on 270, 495, and 95, and it doesn’t do any wonder for my stress levels (and I don’t get that stressed very easily).

So now, it’s been announced that the ICC is going to break ground this fall, and it won’t be completed until the year 2010 (who knows if I’ll still be around). But I think it’ll definitely alleviate a lot of traffic off of 495 for those who want to travel from Montgomery County to Prince George County.

Though it has said it’s claiming about 58 homes that lie in the path of the supposed 6 lane freeway. But the reason why they have to claim some of these homes is because it cannot go through the rock creek park. That’s protected.

After looking at the map of where the proposed ICC is going to be laid out (it’s about 18 miles long), I would like to think that it’ll make it easier for people to get around DC and not have to drive on 495. Instead they can use the ICC to get them to where they need to go without clogging up the suburbs & 495 (which as we all know can be the biggest pain in all of our arses).

There are people that oppose this project, and I don’t blame them. I’d be somewhat skeptical. It’s going through the path of 58 homes, that’s a lot of people who are losing their homes. It’s one of the most costliest highway projects EVER, and you know the price is going to be higher than what the original proposed cost is.

There’s always going to be people against and for this project. I’m for it. Unless someone can tell me that there are 1568716946 other ways to provide some traffic relief for the folks who use 495 to get from 270 to 95.