(January 6, 2009) – This weekend, as part of the State Highway Administration’s (SHA) $70 million railroad bridge construction project along MD 450 near the Peace Cross in Prince George’s County, SHA will remove the two sets of existing railroad tracks along MD 450. The work will require a temporary closure of both directions of MD 450 beginning this Friday night January 9, through Sunday morning January 11 weather permitting. The total closure this weekend is necessary to ensure worker and motorist safety as crews remove the old tracks from MD 450 and resurface the impacted area.           
          
Beginning at 8 p.m. this Friday, the contractor will close all lanes of both directions of MD 450; all lanes should be open to traffic by 2 a.m. Sunday morning. Traffic intending to travel along eastbound MD 450, motorists will be detoured at Peace Cross to northbound US 1 Alternate for one additional block, to a right onto Upshur Street, a right onto southbound MD 201, and a right back onto eastbound MD 450.           
          
Traffic intending to travel along westbound MD 450 toward Peace Cross (where MD 450 ends and US 1 Alternate continues into Washington, DC) must turn right at 48th Street (which is the on ramp for northbound MD 201), to a left onto westbound MD 410, a left onto southbound US 1 and a left onto US 1 Alternate, which connects to MD 450.           
          
SHA will use variable message signs to guide motorists along the detours. The overall MD 450 project began fall 2004 and is expected to be completed by winter 2009, weather permitting. SHA’s contractor for the project is Balfour Beatty Construction, Inc. of Hyattsville, Md.           
          
Those who have questions about MD 450 or any other State numbered roadway in Prince George’s County should call SHA’s District 3 Office at 1-800-749-0737. SHA encourages all motorists to drive responsibly and “Think Orange” while driving through work zones by driving the speed limit and remaining alert at all times.          
          
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