(August 25, 2015) – The Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) is beginning an $825,000 intersection improvement project on MD 190 (River Road) at Willard Avenue/Greenway Drive. Weather permitting; the project should be complete late fall 2016.

Crews will widen eastbound River Road to add a left turn lane onto Willard Avenue, which will improve traffic flow and reduce congestion. Other elements of the project include constructing sidewalk ramps for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance and new curbs and gutters. Crews will install audible and countdown display pedestrian signals at the River Road intersections with Ventnor Road, Willard/Avenue/Greenway Drive and Baltimore Avenue.  Additionally, SHA will and upgrade the traffic signals systems with new mast arms, signal heads and brighter LED bulbs. The turn lane addition will be one of the final stages of the project in 2016, when the entire roadway will be resurfaced. 

To complete all phases of work, crews are permitted to close one lane in either direction of MD 190 weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. In 2016, when road widening and resurfacing begin, crews may also close one lane of MD 190 overnights, Sundays through Thursdays between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. More than 17,000 vehicles use this section of River Road daily so there may be traffic delays during construction.

Pedestrian traffic will be maintained at all times.  Pedestrians within the work zone may be directed to the safest crossings including those on the opposite side of the street. Residents and travelers are advised that equipment used for construction can be loud and disruptive. SHA’s contractor for the work is M. Luis Construction Company of Baltimore.

In addition to this project, drivers may also encounter mobile or short-term work zones. Click here for a listing of major SHA projects in Maryland. 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.