Project Will Enhance Pavement and Extend Acceleration Lanes 

(August 26, 2016) – Beginning next week, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) will improve safety on US 340 in Knoxville by treating the pavement and lengthening acceleration/merge lanes.  SHA will apply a protective pavement seal to US 340 between the Potomac River Bridge and the Frederick County line.  SHA’s contractor will treat all lanes in both directions of US 340 over several nights beginning August 31.  Crews will apply the seal to one lane at a time, requiring single-lane closures between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m.  SHA will not close lanes September 2 through September 5 for the Labor Day holiday and will resume work September 6 at 8 p.m., weather permitting.

SHA’s contractor, Slurry Pavers, Inc. of Richmond, VA will use a treatment known as “microsurfacing,” on US 340.  Applied to roads that do not yet require asphalt overlays, microsurfacing extends the pavement life by approximately five years and saves money by delaying more expensive resurfacing.  Slurry treatment seals cracks, locks out moisture and improves traction to help prevent hydroplaning.

To further enhance safety, SHA will modify the lane configuration on eastbound US 340 within the corridor.  SHA is lengthening the acceleration lanes at the US 340 and Keep Tryst Road/Valley Road intersection by restriping the pavement.   The longer lanes will reduce the potential for traffic collisions as vehicles merge onto eastbound US 340.   When the striping is complete, there will be one through lane on eastbound US 340 between the Potomac River Bridge and MD 67 (Rohrersville Road), approximately one mile.

Approximately 23,400 vehicles use this section of US 340 each day. Motorists should plan extra travel time during the work.  SHA will use barrels, dynamic message signs and arrow boards to guide motorists through the work zone.  Weather permitting, the nearly two mile, $300,000 project will be complete mid-September.

While SHA and its transportation partners work hard to maintain safe traffic mobility in work zones, each driver needs to actively modify his or her driving style to help prevent crashes. Stay alert and look for reduced speed limits, narrow driving lanes and highway workers.  Slow down and don’t follow too closely. Work Zone Safety is in Your Hands.

A complete listing of current roadway projects is included in e-Road Ready 2016, the online brochure. Maryland drivers can also know before they go by calling 511 or visiting www.md511.org for live traffic updates, including construction delays and lane closures. Those who have questions about SHA projects in Washington County may call the SHA District 6 Office at 301-729-8400, toll-free at 1-800-760-7138 or send email to shadistrict6@sha.state.md.us