(August 6, 2010)  -- A sub-contractor working on New Hampshire Avenue (MD 650) as part of the Intercounty Connector (ICC) projector inadvertently struck a gas line shortly before noon today. 

 

MD 650 is currently closed between Bonifant/Good Hope roads to the north and Randolph Road to the south.   Traffic is being detoured to Randolph Road, Bonifant Road and Layhill Road by both Montgomery County Police and Maryland State Highway (SHA) crews.

 

Contractors were working in the area as part of a traffic shift associated with construction of a new permanent bridge to carry MD 650 motorists over the ICC.  Northbound MD 650 traffic was shifted to the new bridge last weekend; southbound MD 650 traffic is expected to be shifted the weekend of August 14.  These shifts will be in place for approximately one year while the remainder of the permanent bridge structure is completed.

 

Utility repair crews are on site working to repair the gas line.  The repairs are expected to last through most of the evening rush hour.

 

The traffic shits are part of ICC Contract B between MD 97 and US 29.  That segment, along with Contract C (Old Columbia Pike east to I-95) between US 29 and I-95, is scheduled to open to traffic in late 2011/early 2012.
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