(October 31, 2011) – Tonight the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) will remove two steel beams from the Ridge Road bridges over MD 295 (Baltimore Washington Parkway) just south of BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport.  This work will require a single lane closure of MD 295 in each direction beginning at 9 p.m. and several 15-minute complete closures of MD 295 beginning at midnight and continuing through 5 a.m.  Ridge Road will remain open to traffic during this work.

Motorists traveling to BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport should plan ahead for extra time to reach and consider using any of the following alternate routes to the airport:

• From the east, take I-97 to MD 176 west and follow the “Airport Loop” signs using MD 162 and MD 170.
• From the west, take I-95 or US 1 to I-195 east and follow signs to the airport.
• Motorists planning to continue on MD 295 beyond the airport late tonight should consider alternate north-south routes such as I-95, I-97 and US 1.

These closures are necessary to ensure the safety of motorists and workers during crane operations.  SHA scheduled this work during off-peak travel times to minimize impacts to travelers and BWI operations.  This work is weather-permitting and may be rescheduled depending on site conditions and forecasts.

Removal of these two beams is part of a $1.2 million rehabilitation of the Ridge Road bridges over MD 295.  Work includes replacement of the bridge decks and parapets and repaving of the bridge approaches.  Both bridges were built in 1950, and this work will extend the service life of the bridges an estimated 20-30 years.  SHA awarded the contract to Pioneer Contracting Company of Odenton.  Completion is estimated summer 2012, weather permitting.  An average of 90,000 vehicles travel this stretch of MD 295 each day.

Maryland now features FREE 511 traveler information! Call 511 or 1-855-GOMD511 or visit: www.md511.org for current travel information. Sign up to personalize travel route information through MY511 on the website. Remember to use 511 safely - Maryland law restricts hand-held mobile phone use and texting while driving.

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