(August 27, 2013) – Commuters in Washington County will soon have a new parking option for ride sharing on the I-81 corridor. The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) is starting construction next week on a $1.5 million Park and Ride at the I-81/MD 68 Interchange near Williamsport.

 

 

 

The 42-space Park and Ride will be complete in spring 2014, weather permitting. The lot will be in the southwest corner of the I-81 exit 1 interchange, accessed from MD 68. It will provide a safer and larger-capacity replacement for an informal gravel parking lot on the shoulder of MD 68 that has been used for several years by about 20 vehicles per day.

 

“This project will help meet the growing demand for ridesharing facilities in this area,” SHA District Engineer Anthony Crawford said. “Ridesharing helps commuters save money, reduces congestion and helps improve air quality by reducing harmful emissions.”

 

 

The Park and Ride will also have nine tractor-trailer parking spaces to help meet the need for overnight parking for truckers on I-81. Those spaces will be available for overnight use only and will be monitored for any potential issues and removed if needed.

The one-acre Park and Ride will have energy-efficient LED lighting and bicycle parking. As part of the project, SHA will also realign the final 200 feet of the ramp from southbound I-81 to eastbound MD 68, reconfigure the MD 68 median, widen the shoulders on MD 68 at the entrance to the Park and Ride for bicycle compatibility, and complete storm water management improvements including environmentally friendly “bioswales,” which help filter pollutants from runoff. SHA’s contractor for the project is C. William Hetzer, Inc., of Hagerstown. 

The small existing parking area at the interchange will be unavailable during construction. Those using the lot may wish to consider the Park and Ride at either the I-81/MD 56 (Salem Avenue – I-81 Exit 7) interchange or the I-70/MD 632 (Downsville Pike – I-70 Exit 28) interchange as alternatives during construction.

Motorists should anticipate shoulder closures, lane shifts, and daytime single-lane closures on MD 68. A temporary overnight ramp closure with a detour may be scheduled for the I-81 exit 1 off-ramp later in the project. Please stay alert and use caution when traveling through the work zone.

 

This project was made possible with funding from the Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act of 2013, which maintains crucial system preservation investments and allows Maryland to activate long-term strategies to invest in Maryland’s transportation systems. By putting people back to work in the transportation industry with $4.4 billion in new investments in the next six years, Maryland is creating hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity and providing Marylanders with the transportation infrastructure necessary to grow and prosper for decades to come.

 

While SHA and its partners work hard to maintain safe traffic mobility in work zones, each driver needs to actively modify his or her driving style to help prevent crashes. Stay alert – look for reduced speed limits, narrow driving lanes and highway workers. Slow down and don't follow too closely. Safer Driving. Safer Work Zones. For everyone!

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