Mark Berman’s trip
While Dr. Gridlock deals with the standstill traffic on southbound I-270, I’ll be cruising along the new toll road in Montgomery County. I believe I’m easily going to win this race — just as long as my terrible sense of direction and iffy knowledge of suburban Maryland roads don’t cause any problems. (Should be a cakewalk, right?)
7:45 a.m.
Dr. Gridlock and I leave the parking lot and head onto MD 355, almost immediately running into some traffic. Bob heads to the right lane and I-370; I move to the left lane and head for Shady Grove Road.
7:49 a.m.
After waiting semi-patiently, I turn left onto Shady Grove Road. Driving up the street, I see multiple signs advertising the new ICC. I realize one problem: The signs say it’s E-ZPass only, and I only have cash for the $1.45 toll. Well, I’m sure there’s an attendant or somebody at the toll plaza, right? Nope. (Note: I look forward to getting that bill, and I’m glad I’m getting it before they start charging the $3 service fee on April 5.)
7:57 a.m.
I turn onto the ICC for the first time. It still has that new highway smell, and not a lot else. As far as I can see, there are only two other cars joining me in the eastbound lanes. There are cars here and there heading west, but it’s very, very sparse. This is a breeze. Again, cakewalk.
8:03 a.m.
And it appears I missed the exit for Georgia Avenue. I passed signs for exit 9A, labeled for Olney and Wheaton. The only notice I get is a sign labeled “Georgia Avenue” right at the exit alongside the ramp, positioned way too late for me to do anything.
Dr. Gridlock later informs me that the signs say MD 97. If you’re taking that exit, be advised: You won’t see the words “Georgia Avenue” until it’s too late.
8:05 a.m.
Okay, I exit onto Norbeck Road and reroute myself. Only later do I learn that, had I just made a right at Norbeck Road, I would have hit Georgia Avenue not far from where I should have exited in the first place. But no, that would have been too easy. Instead, directed by a GPS device, I begin a series of wildly unnecessary turns that take me more than four miles out of my way (and cost me about 15 minutes) before I finally get onto Georgia Avenue.
8:21 a.m.
I’m on Georgia Avenue! Success. I’m sure I can still win this thing . . . except I keep running into terrible traffic. Once I pass Aspen Hill Road a few minutes later, traffic eases a bit, but it turns out to be the only lull I get until Silver Spring.
8:29 a.m.
The bad news: I’m sitting in standstill traffic as I wait to approach Randolph Road. The good news: I’ve got plenty of time to try to figure out where I went wrong (besides volunteering to take the road not yet on maps and sending Dr. Gridlock on the long-established route). I’m studying a map on my phone, and at least I didn’t go too far out of my way. I thought I was in Delaware for a second there.
8:48 a.m.
After a lot of standstill traffic in and around Wheaton, I find that downtown Silver Spring is much more passable. I meet Dr. Gridlock at the intersection. He won, but he doesn’t gloat. Much.
Final tally: I drove 23.7 miles and it took me 1 hour 3 minutes. The trip would normally have been about 19 miles and taken 48 minutes. Even with my missteps, Bob’s route got him there first only by a slim margin.
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