This major roadway reconstruction effort led by the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA, District 3) spanned approximately 1.5 miles between College Avenue and MD 193 (University Boulevard).
DFI's Daniel Abebe served as Lead Inspector, overseeing daily construction activities and ensuring compliance with contract plans, specifications, and MDOT SHA standards through field inspections, documentation of contractor operations, quality control verification, and coordination with SHA project engineers and contractors.
The project transformed this critical north-south corridor, which carries tens of thousands of vehicles daily while serving the University of Maryland community, into a modern "complete streets" facility featuring two travel lanes in each direction, a landscaped raised median, dedicated bicycle lanes on both sides, wider ADA-compliant sidewalks, improved crosswalks, enhanced lighting, and upgrades to drainage, stormwater management, and utility systems.
By improving safety and connectivity for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit users, the corridor now provides better access to the University of Maryland campus, surrounding neighborhoods, and Purple Line light rail stations, marking a major milestone in a broader multi-phase plan to continue upgrading Route 1 further north toward the Capital Beltway and reshapes it into a more accessible and vibrant regional gateway.
