Traffic to be Shifted along MD 36 during Construction          
          
(April 8, 2008) – Beginning next week, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) will start a $2.7 million project to replace two bridge decks along MD 36 (New George’s Creek Road) over I-68 (National Freeway) in Allegany County.           
          
The project will be completed in two phases. The northbound bridge will close Tuesday, April 15 with traffic shifting to the southbound lanes of MD 36. Motorists will travel in a single lane of traffic in each direction during construction. SHA will complete the northbound MD 36 bridge deck replacement by late September 2008, weather permitting.           
          
Beginning spring 2009, SHA will begin replacing the deck along southbound MD 36 over I-68. Traffic will be shifted to the newly completed northbound lanes along MD 36 in spring 2009. The southbound bridge will be completed fall 2009, weather permitting.           
          
The bridges were built in 1970 and are structurally sound; however the concrete deck (the supported roadway on the bridge) requires replacement. SHA will also repaint the bridge superstructure and make other routine repairs.          
          
Currently traffic along MD 36 widens from a single lane to two lanes on the bridges then back to a single lane of traffic beyond the bridges. The revised traffic pattern will include one through lane and a dedicated turn lane to the I-68 ramp in each direction during construction.           
          
SHA awarded the contract to IA Construction Corporation of Cumberland. SHA encourages motorists to stay alert in work zones and slow down. Citizens who have questions about traffic operations on MD 36 or other state numbered routes in Allegany County, may call SHA’s District 6 Office toll free at 1-800-760-7138.           
          
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