(August 24, 2012) – The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) advises drivers in Washington County that Poffenberger Road will close to through traffic between Garis Shop Road and MD 65 (Sharpsburg Pike) on Tuesday, September 4. Weather permitting, the road will reopen by mid November.

The closure will allow crews to realign the east end of Poffenberger Road to create a safer intersection of Poffenberger Road and US 40 Alternate, southeast of Hagerstown. Crews will also construct a roundabout at the intersection of Poffenberger Road and Garis Shop Road, which will improve safety and reduce travel delays. Weather permitting, the project will be complete by the end of the year.

Crews will post detour signs to direct motorists wishing to travel between US 40 Alternate and MD 65 to use Wagaman and Garis Shop roads. The section of Poffenberger Road connecting US 40 Alternate and Garis Shop Roads will remain open. Local access to homes on Poffenberger Road will be maintained, but motorists will need to access Poffenberger Road from the Sharpsburg Pike end (please see map).

“We thank residents and motorists for their cooperation and patience and will have the road back open as soon as possible,” District Engineer Anthony Crawford said. “When this project is complete, traffic flow and safety will be much better at the US 40 Alternate intersection.”

Roundabouts improve safety at intersections by creating a controlled one-way movement of traffic, removing the possibility of angle collisions. Roundabouts also provide a traffic calming effect as motorists must slow down to enter the intersection. Motorists traveling through the roundabout have the right-of-way and motorists entering the roundabout are required to yield. 

At intersections in Maryland, crashes have declined by more than 70 percent where SHA has installed roundabouts.  For roundabout driving tips, log onto www.roads.maryland.gov

The project is a partership between SHA and Washington County and began in July with the construction of additional turn lanes on US 40 Alternate.  Lanes on US 40 Alternate are narrowed and shifted while crews work behind barrier walls.

SHA and Washington County are sharing the approximately $1.5 million construction cost, with the county funding about $1.25 million and SHA funding about $250,000. SHA and the county shared design and right-of-way acquisition costs, and a private developer also contributed land for the project. The contractor is C. William Hetzer Inc. of Hagerstown.

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!

Maryland now features FREE 511 traveler information! Call 511 or 1-855-GOMD511 or visit www.md511.org  for current travel information. Sign up to personalize travel route information through MY511 on the website. Remember to use 511 safely – Maryland law prohibits hand-held mobile phone use and texting while driving.

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