Ramp Realignment Work Part of “Parkville Streetscape” Project           
          
(June 3, 2009) – Beginning 10 a.m. Monday, June 8, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) will temporarily close the ramp from eastbound I-695 (Baltimore Beltway Inner Loop) to southbound MD 147 (Harford Road) for approximately two weeks for ramp realignment work.           
          
This work is part of SHA’s $9 million “Parkville Streetscape” project to improve highway safety, traffic operations and aesthetics along two miles of MD 147 (Harford Road) between the Baltimore City Line and Joppa Road. As part of the project, SHA is realigning the end of the I-695 exit ramp where it meets Harford Road to improve safety and reduce conflicts for motorists in the interchange area.           
          
While the ramp is closed, motorists traveling along eastbound I-695 to southbound Harford Road will be directed to go past the ramp for southbound Harford Road and go through the “cloverleaf” interchange to reach southbound Harford Road (I-695 Inner Loop ramp to northbound Harford Road, Harford Road ramp to Outer Loop I-695, then I-695 Outer Loop ramp to southbound Harford Road). SHA strongly encourages motorists to plan for extra travel time, or to use alternative routes such as MD 41 (Perring Parkway) or US 1 (Belair Road) to reach destinations in the Parkville area south of I-695.           
          
The Harford Road project began in 2007 and will be complete in late summer, weather permitting. The project also includes: pavement grinding, patching, and resurfacing; replacement of sidewalks where needed; construction of Americans with Disabilities Act-compatible sidewalks and ramps; new curbs, gutters, and drainage system improvements; upgrades to existing traffic signals to include new audible pedestrian signals and digital crossing time countdown signals; and slight roadway widening at the Putty Hill Road intersection.           
Aesthetic and environmental improvements include: corridor landscaping and creation of “pocket parks”; brick accents along sidewalks and at intersections; installation of new community gateway signs and new street furniture.           
          
Work will continue along Harford Road throughout the summer; daytime single lane closures along Harford Road may occur between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Nighttime lane closures may occur between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m., Sunday through Thursday.           
          
SHA has hosted a series of community meetings to update area residents, business owners and community leaders on the progress of the streetscape project. The final community update meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, June 15 at the Parkville Senior Center, 8601 Harford Road.           
          
The State’s contractor for the Harford Road project is Rustler Construction of Lanham, Maryland. SHA and the contractor appreciate the community’s understanding and patience during the temporary ramp closure and detour, and remind all travelers to look ahead for temporary traffic signs, changed travel patterns, and construction personnel and equipment throughout the work zone.           
          
For more information about the Harford Road project, citizens may call SHA’s local project field office in Parkville at 410-665-7441 or call SHA’s District 4 Office – Construction Division at 410-321-2820 or toll- free at 1-800-962-3077.           
          
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