FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
CONTACT:  CHARLIE GISCHLAR, 443-463-7234
 
 

(November 4, 2012) – The State Highway Administration reopened the Baltimore-Washington Parkway (MD 295) at 4:30 a.m. Sunday after crews successfully used special hydraulic moving equipment to lift and place the new 500-ton West Nursery Road bridge deck over northbound MD 295.  The State Highway Administration (SHA) closed the Parkway at West Nursery Road last night at 10:00 p.m. to perform the innovative construction technique. Both directions of MD 295 are now flowing freely.  West Nursery Road reopened to traffic at 7:00 a.m. Sunday.
 
The entire structure was carried several hundred feet along MD 295 by a “self-propelled modular transporter” (SPMT) system and secured on West Nursery Road.
 
“Thanks to drivers who diverted during the closures, which allowed crews to move the old bridge deck out and roll the new one in place in two nights,” said SHA Administrator Melinda B. Peters.  “We look forward to repeating this operation next weekend for the West Nursery Road Bridge over southbound MD 295.  This innovative approach saves time and improves safety for workers and drivers. We appreciate the business and community support as we took on this challenge.”  
 
SHA will repeat this process the weekend of November 9-11 for the West Nursery Road bridge deck over southbound MD 295.  The project is weather dependent.
 
During the closures, SHA is directing travelers to use I-95, I-97, US 1 (Washington Boulevard) or US 29 (Columbia Pike) as alternate routes. 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.
 
Follow SHA on Twitter @MDSHA, view our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/MarylandStateHighwayAdministration.  For up to the minute traffic information, call 511 or log onto www.MD511.org.
 
# # #
​