Governor Martin O’Malley Proclaims April Maryland Work Zone Safety Awareness Month

GREAT VISUALS:

Rare Opportunity to Tour Active Construction Project at Charles Street Bridge over I-695 Offering Panoramic Views of Project Area; Opportunity to Interview Workers and Widow of State Highway Worker Killed in Line of Duty

WHAT:  

Media briefing and kickoff of Maryland work zone safety awareness month within active construction work zone allows media to experience firsthand the challenges highway workers face.  Update on SafeZones program and I-695/Charles Street interchange project.

WHO: 

Deputy Transportation Secretary Harold Bartlett State Highway Administrator Neil J. Pedersen Lt. Col. Rob Turano, Commander of Maryland State Police Field Operations Major Kevin Anderson, Commander of the Maryland Transportation Authority Police, Special Operations Division Laurie Moser, Widow of Highway Worker and Work Zone Safety Advocate Representatives from Maryland State Police and Transportation Authority Police
SHA Project Engineers, Six M contractor representatives 

WHEN:  

10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 14, 2010

WHERE: 

Bellona Avenue Extended Ramp to westbound I-695 – Use address 1304 Bellona Avenue

WHY:  

On average over the last 10 years in Maryland, 2,685 work zone crashes have occurred each year injuring 1,484 and killing 12 people.  While highway construction can be treacherous for workers, four out of five people killed in roadway work zones are drivers and their passengers.  Nationally, more than 700 people are killed each year in work zone crashes, the majority of them motorists.

DIRECTIONS:

FROM I-695:
From Inner Loop:  Take Exit 25 - MD 139 (Charles Street) to Lutherville, stay to left on ramp.  Turn left onto Charles Street towards Lutherville at the signal.   (It is a long phase traffic signal for the ramp.)  Cross over the bridge, stay left and immediately go towards roundabout and take the third leg onto Bellona Avenue Extended and ramp to I-695/I-83.  This leg of the roundabout is open to local traffic only, but the ramp to I-695 and I-83 is closed. Continue past office buildings on right.  SHA staff will direct you to parking along Bellona Avenue Extended. 

From Outer Loop: Take Exit 25 for Charles Street, turn left at T intersection at end of ramp.  Proceed immediately to roundabout, bear right and take second exit to ramp/access road.  Follow to event site.  

EDITOR’S NOTE: **The press briefing will occur within an ACTIVE construction work site.  Please wear appropriate clothing and shoes for navigation of site.  Vests and construction hard hats will be loaned, please RSVP to guarantee ample supply. **