​(April 15, 2019) – The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) has closed the right lane on westbound I-68 (National Freeway) near Greene Street in Cumberland, Allegany County. The long-term lane closure is necessary as crews stabilize a section of Haystack Mountain that has become unstable. The $3 million stabilization project should be complete early-summer.

MDOT SHA has been monitoring rock movements on Haystack Mountain since last year as the region received record rainfall. Crews have set up steel barrier on the right shoulder and require the right lane closure to remove and haul away large amounts of rock and soil debris.

Crews will first clear unstable material from the mountain and remove other material that may become unstable. MDOT SHA’s contractor for the emergency repair, GeoBuild, LLC. of Punxsutawney, PA, will use techniques known as soil nailing and rock bolting to secure the face of Haystack Mountain adjacent to I-68.

 

 

 

(MDOT SHA photo: I-68 Haystack Mountain repair. April 2019.)

MDOT SHA will use barrels and cones to guide motorists through the work zone. Nearly 40,000 vehicles use this section of I-68 each day, so motorists should allow extra travel time.

MDOT SHA and its transportation partners work hard to maintain safe traffic mobility in work zones, but each driver needs to actively modify his or her driving style to help prevent crashes. Stay alert and look for reduced speed limits, narrow driving lanes and highway workers. Drive like you work here and slowdown in construction zones and pay extra attention to changing traffic patterns.

For a look at real-time commute conditions, log onto md511.maryland.gov.