(June 30, 2010) – Beginning Tuesday, July 6, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) will begin a $310,000 project to make routine repairs to the westbound I-70 bridge over Hollow Road near Middletown, Frederick County.  SHA anticipates completing work in late July, weather permitting. 

To facilitate the repairs and to minimize the length of construction,  SHA will temporarily close Hollow Road for approximately three weeks between US 40 (Baltimore National Pike) and Valley View Road. 

The closure is necessary to ensure motorists’ safety as the steel beam is being repaired, which is located above the Hollow Road travel lanes.  SHA will also install temporary support beams on Hollow Road to provide extra support for the bridge during construction.  The bridge, built in 1968 is structurally sound; however routine repairs to the steel beams that support the bridge are necessary.

Motorists traveling north on Hollow Road will be detoured west onto Valley Road to north on MD 17 (Myersville Road) to Harmony Road to east on US 40 back to Hollow Road.  Motorists traveling south on Hollow Road will be detoured east on US 40 to south on Ridge Road to west on US 40 Alternate (Old National Pike) back to Hollow Road. Traffic on westbound I-70 will not be impacted during construction. 

SHA awarded the contract to Covington, Machine and Welding, Inc. of Annapolis.  SHA encourages motorists to stay alert in work zones and slow down.  Citizens who have questions about traffic operations along I-70, US 40, MD 17, US 40 Alternate or other State numbered routes in Frederick County may call SHA’s District 7 Office at 301-624-8100 or toll free at 1-800-635-5119. 

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.
      
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