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The project also will include major work to the Piney Branch Road bridge over Sligo Creek including replacement of the concrete bridge deck.

The Piney Branch Road reconstruction is the result of efforts by neighborhood residents to improve pedestrian safety on the thoroughfare.

"The lobbying effort has been going on for a good 15 years," said Carol Smalls, a resident of the Sligo Hills section of Silver Spring who helped convince state and county elected officials to throw their support behind the Piney Branch realignment. "It's a very hazardous road."

One area of particular concern for neighbors is the safety of Takoma Park Middle School students, many of whom walk along Piney Branch Road to go to school.

"One of our neighbors, Brooke Williams, was killed in December of 1995 coming home from Takoma Park Middle School," Smalls said.

The tragedy galvanized neighbors to demand pedestrian-oriented improvements to the road.

But other area businesses and residents came out in strong opposition to the narrowing of Piney Branch Road, saying it would worsen congestion and send overflow traffic into East Silver Spring neighborhoods.

"We tried our best to stop it," said Ken Duckson, owner of Piney Branch Sunoco that is located in the middle of the stretch of road now under construction.

Duckson helped circulate a petition against the Piney Branch realignment that he said more than 500 people signed.

"One lane is not enough," Duckson said. "It's less safe now than it was before. Speed alone has increased because of it. Already I've seen an increase in the amount of people going down Dale Drive. It's pushing people into the side streets."

SHA officials are confident the project is the right thing to do.

"The project will improve motorist, pedestrian and bicyclist safety," reads a recent SHA press release.

SHA awarded the $1.9 million contract for the Piney Branch Road project to Rustler Construction of Herndon, Virginia.

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