(October 31, 2012) – The Maryland State Highway Administration’s innovative “bridge on wheels” project is set to resume this weekend, November 2-4, as crews seek to replace the 70-foot long, 300-ton West Nursery Road bridge over MD 295 northbound this weekend.
“We’ve had project adjustments and weather delays, however the contractor and crews remain eager,” said SHA Administrator Melinda B. Peters. “We appreciate the patience of our local business partners and area residents, and look forward to completing this project.”
Motorists should expect significant overnight traffic impacts beginning at 8 p.m Friday when crews close one lane of MD 295 in both directions at the West Nursery Road interchange.
At 10 p.m. all lanes of MD 295 will be closed. MD 295 will reopen by 10 a.m. Saturday and remain open all day Saturday. West Nursery Road will be closed at MD 295 at 10 p.m. Friday and will remain closed through 10 a.m. Sunday. The same closure schedule for MD 295 will be repeated Saturday night.
During the closures, SHA is directing travelers to use I-95, US 1 (Washington Boulevard) or US 29 (Columbia Pike) as alternate northbound routes. If using northbound I-97, Marylanders are advised that the right lane (one of three) from Benfield Boulevard to near Dorsey Road (MD 176) remains closed for concrete repairs and curing/drying. Those traveling east and west should use Hammonds Ferry Road as an alternate for West Nursery Road.
SHA is using overhead and portable message signs, cones and barrels to guide motorists around the work zone. Airport travelers should plan sufficient time reaching Baltimore Washington Thurgood Marshall Airport.
From Friday night through early Saturday, SHA will remove the existing West Nursery Road bridge over MD 295 northbound using self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs). These hydraulic lifting/moving devices will carry the old bridge several hundred feet north on MD 295 and place it in the median for demolition next week.
On Saturday night, the SPMTs will carry the new bridge into place where crews will secure it and install steel plates on West Nursery Road so all roads can be reopened by Sunday morning.
This project marks the first major bridge move in Maryland using SPMT technology. SHA will repeat this process for the bridge deck over southbound MD 295 the weekend of November 9-11, weather permitting.
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