SHA Encourages Drivers to Avoid Travel Between Midnight and 5 a.m.

(August 25, 2016) – Monday and Tuesday nights, August 29 and 30, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) will temporarily close the MD 231 (Prince Frederick Road/Hallowing Point Road) “Benedict Bridge” over the Patuxent River for 30-minute periods.  Crews will intermittently close the bridge to vehicles between 12 a.m. and 5 a.m., holding traffic on both the Calvert County and Charles County sides.

The closures are necessary for SHA’s contractor to drive piles under the swing span, which requires the structure to be in the open position.  All work is weather permitting.  SHA advises travelers to plan ahead to avoid crossing overnight or to allow extra time for the 30-minute intermittent closures.

The new piles are for a fender system to protect the bridge supports from collisions with marine traffic.  Construction of the new steel and timber fender system began in late April.  The new system, which includes heavy wooden timbers, is prepared off-site and installed from barges.  SHA is adding navigational lights under the bridge to enhance visibility for marine traffic’s safe passage.  SHA awarded the $3.5 million project to Corman Marine Construction, Inc. of Annapolis Junction, MD.