15 Minutes Total Closures will Occur on MD 32 at Burntwoods Road Next Week; Motorists Are Encouraged to Seek Alternate Routes          

(June 10, 2008) – On Monday, June 16, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) will begin setting structural steel for the Burntwoods Road Bridge over MD 32 in Howard County. The steel placement will require SHA to intermittently close existing MD 32 for up to 15 minutes weeknights from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Weather permitting, steel placement will be completed by 5 a.m. on Monday, June 23. The temporary closures will ensure worker and motorist safety as steel beams are erected and secured directly over the travel lanes of MD 32.           

In addition, SHA will shift traffic along existing MD 32 (Sykesville Road) to the newly constructed lanes of MD 32 at Burntwoods Road on June 11 following the morning rush hour. The lane shift is necessary as SHA begins reconstructing MD 32 to accommodate the new interchange. The work is part of the $27 million MD 32 interchange project at Burntwoods Road.           

Motorists are advised to reduce speed and stay alert. Variable message signs, barrels, and arrow boards will guide motorists through the work zone. More than 50,000 vehicles travel along MD 32 each day, so motorists are urged to plan extra commuting time during construction. The MD 32/Burntwoods Road interchange project began in July 2007 and is expected to be complete by fall 2009, weather permitting.           

SHA awarded the contract to Kibler Construction of Finksburg. Citizens who have questions about traffic operations on MD 32 or other State numbered routes in Howard County, may call SHA’s District 7 Office toll free at 1-800-635-5119.           

During the next several months, there could be more than 350 work zones in place. Remember that work zones are not only large construction projects possibly taking years to complete, but include smaller, mobile operations such as mowing, pothole repair and litter pick ups. Choose to make work zone safety your business at choosesafetyforlife.com.           
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