(October 16, 2012) – The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) advises motorists on I-70 in Washington County to expect temporary single-lane closures tonight at the bridge over Conococheague Creek, west of Hagerstown, due to an ongoing bridge widening and rehabilitation project.
The schedule for the lane closures is:
Eastbound I-70: Left lane closed 7 p.m. Tuesday, October 16 to 5 a.m. Wednesday, October 17 Westbound I-70: Left lane closed 8 p.m. Tuesday, October 16 to 5 a.m. Wednesday, October 17
The lane closures will allow crews to revise lane markings to shift the traffic lanes approximately two feet to the right and to set up barrier walls along the median side of the lanes. This will protect both workers and motorists as work moves forward to widen the dual bridges to the inside. When the shift is complete on Wednesday, all lanes will reopen and traffic will return to its normal pattern with two lanes of traffic in each direction.
The approximately $16.5 million, two-year-long project is part of SHA’s bridge preservation and replacement program. The dual bridge, constructed in 1965, is safe for the traveling public, but is showing signs of deterioration. The rehabilitation will extend its “life” by an additional 30 to 50 years. SHA is widening each side of the existing bridge by 21 feet to include inner shoulders. This will give motorists space to pull over during emergencies and allow room for the potential future addition of a third lane.
SHA’s contractor for the project is Concrete General of Gaithersburg. For more information and updates throughout the project, visit
http://tinyurl.com/conococheaguebridge, or call SHA’s District 6 office at 301-729-8400.
While SHA and its 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!
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.
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