(August 3, 2010) – This Saturday, crews from the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) will inspect the MD 4 bridge over Patuxent River (Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge) in Southern Maryland.  Inspections and testing are scheduled for Saturday August 7, (rain date August 8), Saturday, August 28 and Sunday, August 29, weather permitting.  Work will begin at approximately 6 a.m. and end no later than 1 p.m. each day. 

 

SHA will close one lane and flag persons will alternate traffic across the bridge.  Variable message signs will be placed along MD 2/4 in Calvert County, as well as MD 4 and MD 235 in St. Mary’s County.  Boom truck inspection vehicles will operate from the bridge; motorists should proceed with caution through the work zone. 

 

Engineers will be on site to test the post-tensioning bars at several of the bridge’s pier caps (the tops of the vertical structures that support the bridge).  The tensioning bars are functioning as intended; the tests are being performed to

obtain readings of the tension forces using new technologies. 

 

SHA encourages all motorists to drive responsibly and “Think Orange” while driving through highway work zones by driving the appropriate speed and remaining alert at all times. Learn more about work zone safety and the Choose Safety for Life campaign at www.choosesafetyforlife.com.