(May 9, 2012) –The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) will temporarily close East South Street between Franklin Street and Monocacy Boulevard beginning Friday night, May 11 and will open the road by 5 a.m. Sunday, May 13.  Additionally, the East South Street/Monocacy Boulevard intersection will also be closed.

Motorists traveling south along South Street will be detoured to Franklin Street to East Patrick Street to Monocacy Boulevard to westbound I-70 to the interchange at MD 85 (Buckeystown Pike), where motorists will be directed back to eastbound I-70 to South Street/Reichs Ford Road.  Traffic traveling north on Reichs Ford Road will be detoured onto eastbound I-70 to E. Patrick Street to Monocacy Boulevard.  Motorists travelling along eastbound I-70 to South Street or the Frederick Fairgrounds should use the East Patrick Street exit (Exit 56) rather than the South Street exit (Exit 55).  SHA will use signs and construction barrels to guide motorists through the work zone.

Work during the weekend closure includes excavation, roadbed construction and paving.  SHA will also install new pavement makings at the intersection of East South Street and Monocacy Boulevard.  The work is part of SHA’s $44 million project to widen I-70 at South Street and replace the I-70 bridges over South Street in Frederick.  The entire project should be complete summer 2013, weather permitting.

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 and look for reduced speed limits, narrow driving lanes and highway workers.  Slow down and don’t follow too closely.   Saver driving and safer work zones benefit everyone!

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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