(December 7, 2012) – The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) advises motorists in Washington County that work on two Hagerstown-area projects will affect traffic next week.
Beginning Tuesday, December 11, weather permitting, a flagging operation will be in place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on weekdays at the intersection of
US 40 (National Pike) and MD 63 (Greencastle Pike) at Huyetts Crossroads, west of Hagerstown. Flagging will continue at least through Friday, December 14, and if necessary may continue the following week. Motorists should anticipate possible delays during these hours.
The flagging will allow single-lane closures while crews cut into the pavement to install new traffic signal wires as part of an ongoing intersection improvement project. Pavement will be patched at the end of each workday and the traffic signal will be reactivated, allowing all lanes of traffic to reopen in time for the afternoon rush hour. The $1.5 million project will add additional turn lanes to MD 63. Weather permitting, the entire project will be complete by spring 2013.
A separate project will affect traffic on
I-81 near Halfway Boulevard between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Thursday, December 13, weather permitting. At 9 a.m., crews will close the left lane of northbound I-81 between the Halfway Boulevard and U.S. 40 exits, and at approximately 11 a.m., crews will close the left lane of southbound I-81 in the same area. The lane closures will allow crews to pave a new emergency crossover in the median of I-81 north of Halfway Boulevard.
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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