(March 20, 2012) – Improved pedestrian access is coming to Annapolis! The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) is beginning a project to improve pedestrian safety and access along nearly two miles of MD 450 (West Street) between MD 2 (Solomons Island Road) and MD 435 (Taylor Avenue at Westgate Circle). This project will provide wider sidewalks and pedestrian crossing signals that are fully compliant with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Work is scheduled to start on Sunday night, March 25. Crews will replace sidewalks, curbs and gutters and relocate utilities and retaining walls as necessary to provide a clear pedestrian travel path.
“This is a challenging project in an extremely busy vehicular and pedestrian corridor,” said SHA District Engineer Lee Starkloff. “We know there will be traffic impacts during construction and we’re asking everyone to focus on the big picture: SHA is literally removing obstacles – moving utilities out of the way and relocating sidewalks. When this project is complete, pedestrians will have clear, continuous sidewalk access along this section of MD 450, which will be a tremendous benefit for residents, business owners and visitors.”
To minimize traffic impacts, SHA has structured work phases to coincide with the three different sections of MD 450. In the two-lane section (east end) and four-lane section (west end), all work will take place during overnight hours, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. In the middle three-lane section, work will take place during daytime hours (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) but only during summer months when Anne Arundel County public schools are not in session. In each section, work areas will be limited to one block or approximately 1,000 feet at a time. Pedestrian, business and home access will be maintained at all times during construction.
SHA awarded a $1.4 million contract for this project to Anchor Construction of Washington, DC. Construction is expected to last through late 2012.
Each day more than 30,000 vehicles travel MD 450 at MD 2, and about 15,000 vehicles travel MD 450 through Westgate Circle. This difference in average daily traffic indicates a substantial number of motorists are accessing businesses and homes within the work area. As crews strive to keep work zones safe, 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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