(October 27, 2010) – Today, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) begins a $250,000 project to make routine repairs to the eastbound I-68 Bridge over MD 55 (Vale Summit Road) near exit 34 in Clarysville, Allegany County.  SHA anticipates completing work by early December, weather permitting. 

To expedite construction, SHA will temporarily close eastbound I-68 at the MD 55 bridge weeknights, Sunday through Thursday between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. beginning on or before Sunday, November 7 through early December.  During the closures, all traffic will be detoured from eastbound I-68 onto exit 34 (MD 36) to US 40 Alternate.  SHA will not close I-68 during the Thanksgiving travel period from Wednesday, November 24 through Sunday, November 28.

Single-lane daytime closures on eastbound I-68 will begin today though the overnight total road closures will not begin until November 7 at the earliest.

The overnight closures are necessary to ensure motorist and worker safety as steel beams beneath the bridge are repaired.  The repairs require the beams to be steady during welding, which is not possible when traffic is traveling on I-68.  The bridge, built in 1973 is structurally sound; however routine repairs to the steel beams that support the bridge are necessary.

During the weeknight closure of eastbound I-68, motorists traveling east on I-68 will be detoured to Exit 34, northbound MD 36 (New Georges Creek Road) to eastbound US 40 Alternate (National Pike) toward LaVale to southbound MD 53 (Winchester Road) back to eastbound I-68 at exit 39.  Traffic on westbound I-68 will not be impacted during construction. 

SHA awarded the contract to PDI Sheetz Construction Corporation of Baltimore.  SHA encourages motorists to stay alert in work zones and slow down.  Customers who have questions about traffic operations on I-68, MD 53, MD 36, US 40 Alternate or other State numbered routes in Allegany County, may call SHA’s District 6 Office at 301-729-8400 or toll free at 1-800-760-7138. 

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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