(October 10, 2012) – The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) is warning drivers that a section of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway (MD 295) will be CLOSED at the West Nursery Road overpass near BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport in northern Anne Arundel County during the last two weekends in October.
These overnight closures are critical for SHA to rapidly replace the two West Nursery Road bridges over MD 295. Crews are building the bridges in the median and will demolish and replace the bridge “decks” during the closures.
The MD 295 closure times are as follows:
Fridays, October 19 and 26
8 p.m. - one lane of MD 295 closed in each direction
11 p.m. - ALL LANES OF MD 295 CLOSED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS; MD 295 will remain closed during the overnight hours until approximately 6 a.m. Saturday
Saturdays, October 20 and 27
8 p.m. - one lane of MD 295 closed in each direction
11 p.m. ALL LANES OF MD 295 CLOSED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS; MD 295 will remain closed during the overnight hours until approximately 8 a.m. Sunday
Crews will detour traffic along a single lane using the ramps from West Nursery Road. However, the volume of traffic normally using two-to three lanes will be funneled to one lane so there will be significant delays.
“For the safety of work crews and drivers, SHA is urging motorists to plan now for overnight travel on these weekends. Use MD 511 to determine the best alternate routes,” said SHA Administrator Melinda B. Peters. “The closures allow SHA to use an innovative technology and ‘roll’ the replacement bridges into position, significantly reducing construction time and cost and improving safety.”
The West Nursery Road closures are as follows:
Friday, October 19 – Sunday, October 21
10 p.m. Friday, ALL LANES of West Nursery Road CLOSED and remain closed until 8 a.m. Sunday, all lanes of West Nursery Road to be opened
Friday, October 26 – Sunday, October 28
10 p.m. Friday, ALL LANES of West Nursery Road CLOSED and remain closed until 8 a.m. Sunday, all lanes of West Nursery Road opened
Crews will demolish and remove the West Nursery Road bridge “deck” on Friday night and position a new one on Saturday night. Crews will post detour signs to guide motorists around the work zone. All road opening times are approximate and subject to change depending on weather and work zone conditions. MD 295 will be open to traffic during the daytime only. Local businesses will remain open.
Motorists accessing BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport from the east can use I-97 to MD 176 (Dorsey Road) and follow the "Airport Loop" signs. Motorists accessing the airport from the west should use I-95 to I-195 to the terminal.
Travelers passing through the area or to any of the major sporting events in Baltimore, Washington or Annapolis should use I-95 or I-97. For more information on the West Nursery Road bridge move project and local detour routes to reach BWI Business District businesses, visit
www.roads.maryland.gov.
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 prohibits hand-held mobile phone use and texting while driving.
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. Safer driving. Safer work zones. For everyone!
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