SHA to Prohibit Left Turns from Southbound York Road to Eastbound Seminary Avenue for Eight Weeks during Roadway Widening Work; Local Detour Route to be Posted           
          
(April 16, 2008) – Beginning Monday, April 28, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) will temporarily prohibit motorists from making left turns from southbound York Road (MD 45) onto eastbound Seminary Avenue in the Lutherville community of Baltimore County. This temporary traffic pattern will be in effect for approximately eight weeks to allow construction crews to keep through lanes open during construction of SHA’s $14.6 million project to widen York Road between Cavan Drive and Ridgely Road. Motorists traveling from northbound York Road to westbound or eastbound Seminary Avenue will not be affected.           
          
As of Monday, April 28, SHA will post an official detour route for motorists wishing to access eastbound Seminary Avenue from southbound York Road: Take York Road South past Seminary Avenue, Greenridge Road and the ramp to I-695 West to West Road. Turn right onto West Road and turn right at next signal onto the ramp to I-695 East towards Essex. Take I-695 East to Exit 27B, Dulaney Valley Road North (MD 146). Take Dulaney Valley Road North past signal at Charmuth Road. Proceed north to signal at Seminary Avenue.           
          
The York Road widening project, which began summer 2006, will provide a fifth lane (center turn lane) to improve safety and traffic operations. The project includes: relocation of overhead utilities; relocation of existing sidewalks; construction of new sidewalk with ramps and brick paver accents; installation of new traffic signal equipment along York Road at the intersections with Seminary Avenue, Bellona Avenue/Margate Road, the Lutherville Laboratory for Science, Mathematics and Communications driveway and Ridgely Road; construction of new curb and gutter and storm drain system improvements; roadway widening and resurfacing; installation of new traffic signs and pavement markings; and construction of a fenced bio-retention facility on the elementary school grounds. In tandem with SHA’s project, the Baltimore County Department of Public Works has a project to install a new 24-inch water main underneath the southbound lanes of York Road. Weather permitting, both projects will be completed in fall 2009.           
          
SHA’s contractor for the York Road widening project is P. Flanigan & Sons, Inc. of Baltimore. SHA and the contractor appreciate motorists’ patience during the construction process and remind all drivers to plan for extra travel time, buckle up and obey posted speed limits while driving through highway work zones and detour routes. Citizens who have questions about traffic operations on York Road during construction may call SHA’s project field office in Lutherville at 410-252-3871 or SHA’s District 4 Office at 410-321-2800 or toll-free at 1-800-962-3077.           
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