Crews to Set Bridge Structural Steel for New CSX Railroad Bridge on MD 450 near the Peace Cross in Prince George’s County; Road will be closed up to 24 hours, with additional overnight work to follow; MOTORISTS ENCOURAGED TO AVOID THE AREA           
          
(April 21, 2008) – As part of the State Highway Administration’s (SHA) $70 million railroad bridge construction project on MD 450 near the Peace Cross in Prince George’s County, SHA will this weekend begin setting structural steel for the new CSX railroad bridge. The steel placement will require an overnight temporary 24 hour closure of both directions of MD 450 this Saturday night. There will also be overnight weekday work with possible closures for a period of three weeks beginning Monday night, April 28, weather permitting. The total closure this weekend is necessary to ensure worker and motorist safety as two, 120-ton steel beams are set in place directly over the travel lanes of MD 450. In addition, three cranes needed to lift the beams will be staged on the lanes of MD 450, necessitating the total road closures.          
          
Beginning at 9 p.m. this Saturday, the contractor will close all lanes of both directions of MD 450. All lanes should be open to traffic by 9 p.m. Sunday evening.           
          
For traffic intending to travel eastbound on MD 450, motorists will be detoured at Peace Cross to northbound US 1 Alternate to US 1, to a right onto eastbound MD 410, a right onto southbound MD 201 and a left back onto eastbound MD 450.           
          
For traffic intending to travel westbound along MD 450 toward Peace Cross (where MD 450 officially ends and US 1 Alternate continues into Washington, DC), motorists must turn right at 48th Street (which is the on ramp for northbound MD 201), to a left onto westbound MD 410, a left onto southbound US 1 and a left onto US 1 Alternate, which connects to MD 450.           
          
To avoid delays, motorists are strongly encouraged to use alternate routes and avoid the area. In addition, subsequent nighttime weekday closures will be necessary during the overnight hours for up three weeks beginning April 28. This work is scheduled Monday through Thursday nights between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. and is necessary for additional cross-beams to be installed over MD 450. Weather permitting, this phase of construction should be complete by mid-May.           
          
SHA will use variable message signs to guide motorists along the detours. In case of inclement weather, the overnight total closure of MD 450 will be rescheduled for the following weekend, May 3 and 4. The overall MD 450 project began fall 2004 and is expected to be completed by winter 2009, weather permitting. SHA’s contractor for the project is Balfour Beatty Construction, Inc. of Hyattsville, MD. Citizens who have questions about MD 450 or any other State numbered roadway in Prince George’s County should call SHA’s District 3 office at 1-800-749-0737. SHA encourages all motorists to drive responsibly and “Think Orange” while driving through work zones by driving the speed limit and remaining alert at all times.          
          
# # #