Ramp Will Reopen Thursday Morning, May 14; Temporary Closure was Part of Interchange Ramp Improvements          
          
(May 12, 2009) – On Thursday morning, May 14, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) will reopen the ramp from southbound I-81 (Maryland Veterans Memorial Highway) to eastbound I-70 (Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway) at the I-70/I-81 interchange in Hagerstown, Washington County.           
          
SHA temporarily closed the ramp on Tuesday April 14, as part of the $3.4 million project to improve safety at the interchange. The closure was necessary to facilitate construction as crews improved the bank elevation of the curve to enhance safety along the ramp. The ramp will reopen one week ahead of schedule. The I-70/I-81 interchange carries 55,000 vehicles per day, 34 percent of which is truck traffic. The overall project will be finished this summer.          
          
During the next several months, there could be more than 350 work zones. Remember that work zones are not only large construction projects possibly taking years to complete, but smaller, mobile operations such as mowing, pothole repair and litter pick ups. Choose to make work zone safety your business at www.choosesafetyforlife.com.          
          
SHA awarded the contract to C. William Hetzer, Inc. of Hagerstown. Those who have questions about traffic operations along I-70, I-81, or other State numbered routes in Washington County may call SHA’s District 6 Office at 301-729-8400 or toll free at 1-800-760-7138.           
          
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