(April 30, 2015) – The Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) will re-open the MD 272 (Mauldin Avenue) Bridge over the Amtrak Railway on Friday, May 1 mid-day, weather permitting.  The bridge has been closed since March 24 and a detour established while crews repaired deteriorated bridge approaches. This work was critical in the overall $19 million bridge replacement project underway.

“We are happy that SHA and the Town of North East worked diligently together to get the MD 272 Bridge open in a timely fashion,” said North East Mayor Robert F. McKnight.

The existing MD 272 Bridge over Amtrak was built in 1954, has three-foot wide sidewalks and no shoulders.  The new single-span bridge will include two travel lanes, five-foot wide shoulders and ADA compliant sidewalks. The bridge project also includes two retaining walls and a partial realignment of one-quarter mile along Mauldin Avenue.  Crews will construct new five-foot wide concrete sidewalks on both sides of MD 272 and ADA compliant pedestrian ramps that will extend along MD 272 from the intersection with Main and Russell streets to the entrance of the North East Station Shopping Center. Construction of the entire project is expected to be complete late 2016.

“We are pleased that all travel lanes on the bridge are re-opening and work can continue on replacing the 61 year-old structure,” said SHA District Engineer Greg Holsey. “We appreciate the patience of the motorists and residents during the closure and detour.”

The spring and summer construction season is getting into high gear. For a statewide listing of most SHA projects, click here for e-Road Ready 2015.

In addition to this project, drivers may also encounter mobile or short-term work zones. Always expect the unexpected, pay extra close attention and drive slowly through any work zone. Whether it’s a tree trimming operation or a bridge project, be aware when orange is there: Think Orange (the color of construction equipment and signs), stay alert and slow down. Everyone is at risk.

 

In four out of five work zone-related crashes, it is the driver or passenger who is injured or killed. In 2014, nine people lost their lives in Maryland work zone crashes, including four highway workers. While SHA and its transportation partners work hard to keep traffic safely moving in work zones, please partner with us because work zone safety is everyone’s business – slow down and stay alert. Safer driving. Safer work zones. For everyone.