SHA to Temporarily Reduce US 1 Bridge from Four Lanes to Two Lanes; Motorists and MARC Riders Advised to Plan for Extra Travel Time or Use Alternate Routes Summer 2009           
          
(May 7, 2009) – The Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) is beginning a major project to rehabilitate the bridge carrying US 1 over Sulphur Spring Road in Arbutus as part of the State’s ongoing bridge preservation program. The State’s contractor for this $1.3 million project is the Joseph B. Fay Co. Construction work will begin in mid-May and should be completed spring 2010, weather permitting.          
          
The project includes rehabilitation work including: removal and replacement of the concrete deck, sidewalks and parapets; removal and replacement of two bridge beams; replacement of bridge expansion bearings, diaphragms, and connection plates; cleaning and painting work; and removal and replacement of the chain link safety fence at each end of the bridge.          
          
The 24-hour lane closure and traffic shift will begin in early June to create a safer work zone while parts of the bridge are under construction and closed to traffic this summer. The bridge will be reduced to two lanes of traffic, with one lane in each direction. Two-way traffic on the bridge will be shifted to one side of the bridge while the other side is under construction. Area residents and commuters using the MARC Halethorpe station south of the project are advised to plan for extra travel time.           
          
During construction work, temporary lane closures on the bridge and its approaches may occur daily between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and nightly between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. Sunday through Thursday. No temporary lane closures will occur between 3 p.m. Friday and 7 p.m. Sunday. For more information about highway construction activities along US 1 in Arbutus, citizens may contact SHA’s District 4 Office – Construction Division at 410-321-2820, toll free at 1-800-962-3077 or by email at shadistrict4@sha.state.md.us.          
          
During the next several months, there could be more than 350 work zones along Maryland’s highways. Remember that work zones are not only large construction projects possibly taking years to complete, but include smaller, mobile operations such as mowing, pothole repair and litter pick ups. Choose to make work zone safety your business at www.choosesafetyforlife.com.           
          
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