Two-Way Traffic to be Moved to Eastbound Side of Bridge This Monday   

(March 4, 2010) – The Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) will institute a traffic lane switch on the bridge carrying McDonogh Road over the Gwynns Falls between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday, March 8.  The switch is needed to shift the temporary one-lane, two-way traffic pattern on the bridge.   

The new traffic pattern and long-term temporary bridge lane closure is necessary for crews to continue working on SHA’s project to replace the deck (riding surface) of the McDonogh Road bridge over the Gwynns Falls.  The McDonogh Road Bridge, originally constructed in 1940, is structurally safe; however, SHA is replacing the concrete bridge deck.  The $891,000 bridge deck project began in late summer 2009 on the eastbound side of the bridge.   That side is now complete and crews are ready to begin work on the westbound side. 

This Monday, weather permitting; crews will switch traffic from the westbound side of the bridge to the eastbound side of the bridge.  During the traffic switch, the bridge will remain open; however, flagpersons will control all traffic at the bridge approaches.  Flagpersons may stop all traffic for up to 15 minutes at a time, allowing crews to safely move concrete barriers, traffic control devices and construction equipment from one side of the bridge to the other.  SHA advises motorists to plan ahead for extra travel time along McDonogh Road.  In case of inclement weather, the traffic switch will be done on the next possible weekday.

Once the switch is complete, the temporary traffic signals at each approach to the bridge will control two-way traffic over the one-lane bridge until the bridge deck project is complete.   The temporary traffic signals and one-lane bridge traffic pattern will be in effect 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  The entire project is slated for completion early summer 2010, weather permitting.

 

SHA and the contractor, Espina Paving Inc., of Woodbridge, Va., urge travelers to plan ahead for extra travel time along McDonogh Road and to drive with caution through the bridge work zone at all times.  Citizens with questions or concerns about the McDonogh Road bridge project may contact the SHA project field office in Baltimore County at 410-356-1656, toll-free at 1-866-998-0367 or by e-mail at shadistrict4@sha.state.md.us.  Information may also on the project under the “Projects and Studies” section of SHA’s website, www.roads.maryland.gov.
                                                                                  
       
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