SHA CONTINUES REPAIRS ON EASTBOUND I-68 BRIDGE OVER MD 55 IN ALLEGANY COUNTY

MDOT SHA Logo

MDOT SHA Logo

(April 14, 2010) – On Sunday, April 17, the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) continues a $250,000 project to repair the eastbound I-68 Bridge over MD 55 (Vale Summit Road) east of exit #34 near Clarysville, Allegany County.  SHA anticipates completing the work in mid-May, weather permitting. 

To facilitate the repairs and minimize the length of the project, SHA will temporarily close I-68 at the bridge over MD 55 nightly Sunday through Thursday between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., through mid- May.  SHA will not close I-68 on Easter Sunday.

The closure is necessary to ensure motorist and worker safety as steel beams beneath the bridge are repaired.  The repairs require the beams to be steady, which is not possible with traffic causing the vibrations.  SHA began these repairs last November and crews are beginning the work again following cold winter temperatures.

Motorists traveling east on I-68 will be detoured at Exit 34 to northbound MD 36 (New Georges Creek Road) to eastbound US 40 Alternate (National Pike) toward LaVale  to southbound MD 53 (Winchester Road) back to eastbound I-68.  Traffic on westbound I-68 will not be impacted during construction.  In addition to the nighttime closures, motorists should also expect periodic day time single-lane closures on the eastbound I-68 bridge.

SHA awarded the contract to Covington Machine and Welding of Annapolis.  SHA encourages motorists to stay alert in work zones and slow down.  Customers who have questions about traffic operations on I-68, MD 53, MD 55, MD 36, US 40 Alternate or other State numbered routes in Allegany County, may call SHA’s District 6 Office at 301-729-8400 or toll free at 1-800-760-7138. 

Construction season is here with numerous active work zone sites that include major construction projects taking months to complete and mobile operations taking only minutes.  While SHA and its transportation partners work hard to maintain safe traffic mobility in work zones, each driver needs to actively modify his or her driving style to help prevent crashes. Stay alert - look for reduced speed limits, narrow driving lanes and highway workers.  Slow down and don't follow too closely.  Safer Driving. Safer Work Zones.  For everyone.
      
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