The federal government's defense department released an additional $12.6 million in funds to complete two intersection improvements near the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and National Institutes of Health, according to a statement from Rep. Christopher Van Hollen (D-Kensington).

The funds supplement previous funds released by the federal government to complete improvements to two intersections (at Rockville Pike and Cedar Lane, and at Rockville Pike and Jones Bridge Road). These traffic congestion mitigation projects are part of the BRAC (Base Closure and Realignment Commission) move of Walter Reed to Bethesda.

"We fought hard for the funds to ensure veterans and their families would be able to access the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and to reduce BRAC-related congestion in the surrounding community—and I'm pleased that nearly all of the grant funding has now been approved," Van Hollen said in a statement.

"Our community is proud to be the home of the new Walter Reed and will work to make sure it is a world-class center of excellence for our wounded warriors," he added.

In 2012, federal funds were released for three other BRAC-related transportation projects, including two other intersection improvement projects (at Connecticut Avenue and Jones Bridge Road, and at Old Georgetown Road and West Cedar Lane) and a project to build a pedestrian underpass and high-speed elevators to connect Walter Reed with the Medical Center Metrorail station, Montgomery County BRAC Coordinator Phil Alperson said in an email.