(May 13, 2019) – The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) is beginning a project to improve MD 27 (Ridge Road) at the Gillis Falls Road and Harrisville Road intersection in Mt. Airy. The $2 million project is expected to be complete summer 2020.

MDOT SHA will realign Harrisville Road and Gillis Falls Road to provide safer and more efficient intersection operations for drivers. Crews will also add left turn lanes, deceleration lanes, and wider shoulders for bicyclists. The traffic signal will be modified to include the new turn lanes.

“This project will make a big difference to the surrounding community and its increasing number of drivers,” said District Engineer John Concannon, “With MDOT SHA’s improvements, the intersection will be safer and traffic flow will be enhanced.”

MDOT SHA’s contractor, Gradeline Construction Company, Inc. of Brooklandville, will shift lanes during off-peak hours to install concrete barriers. Motorists can expect single lane closures guided by flaggers Mondays through Fridays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., as well as occasional nighttime single lane closures between 12 midnight and 6 a.m.

Approximately 15,000 motorists use this section of MD 27 each day, so motorists are encouraged to provided extra travel time.

MDOT SHA works hard to maintain safe traffic mobility in work zones for our crews as well as our contractor. Drivers need to stay alert, focus on the road and look for reduced speed limits, narrow driving lanes and highway workers. Drive like you work here and slowdown in construction zones.

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