Office of Research Services

• Heading to Downtown Bethesda? 
• Don’t Get Snarled in the Traffic Congestion Near the Medical Center Metro
• Use Wilson Drive or Center Drive onto Rockville Pike
• Use Lincoln Drive or Center Drive onto Old Georgetown Road

Have you ever left the NIH Bethesda Campus to travel toward downtown Bethesda and used the South Drive exit on Rockville Pike? Buses, shuttles and vehicles all converge in a single right turn lane onto Rockville Pike. Immediately after turning, they face additional delays as pedestrians cross Rockville Pike to and from the Medical Center Metro Station. Don’t get caught in this congestion. Consider using alternative exits from the NIH campus if you find yourself traveling south.

SAVE TIME – Use an Alternate Exit

From the east side of the campus, alternative exits include:

Wilson Drive at Rockville Pike
- Open Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Center Drive at Rockville Pike
- Open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. The location allows you to completely bypass the South Drive/Rockville Pike intersection.

If you work on the West Side of campus, consider using Old Georgetown Road as an alternative. Exits include:

Lincoln Drive at Old Georgetown Road
- Open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Center Drive at Old Georgetown Road
- Open Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Open Saturday/Sunday from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Please remember that pedestrians have the right of way in a marked pedestrian crossing. Avoid an accident in a pedestrian crossing by coming to a complete stop in your vehicle. At non-marked pedestrian crossings, pedestrians must yield to vehicles. However, be aware and don’t assume a pedestrian will stop. Safety is a shared responsibility at all times. When present, pedestrians are strongly encouraged to press the button activating the crossing signal. This will ensure pedestrians receive a ‘walk’ sign and support safer crossings at intersections.