Lane Closures This Weekend are Necessary to Prepare Intersection for Planned Improvements; Motorists Should Seek Alternate Routes and Expect Delays           
          
(December 2, 2008) – Beginning Friday morning, December 5, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) will temporarily close the right lane along eastbound MD 193 between Glenville Road and Gilbert Road, and the right lane along southbound Piney Branch Road between Carroll Avenue (MD 195) and MD 193, as part of the $854,000 intersection widening project.          
          
The lane closures are necessary to ensure worker and motorist safety as crews remove and relocate existing utilities and remove the existing concrete island. The lane closures will occur between 9 a.m. Friday morning, December 5 and 3 p.m. Saturday afternoon, December 6, weather permitting.          
          
SHA will provide variable message signs, drums, and arrow boards to guide motorists through the work zone. To avoid any delays, motorists can use MD 787 (Flower Avenue) or Carroll Avenue as alternate routes. The overall intersection widening project is expected to be completed by late-summer 2009, weather permitting. SHA awarded the contract to Fort Meyer Construction of Washington, DC.          
          
SHA reminds all drivers to buckle up, obey posted speed limits, think orange, and stay alert. Customers who have questions about traffic operations on MD 193 or other State numbered routes in Montgomery County may call SHA’s District 3 Office at 301-513-7300 or toll free at 1-800-749-0737.          
          
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