(April 3, 2015) – With the arrival of spring weather, drivers on I-68 should be prepared for lane closures in the Cumberland area as highway crews tackle bridge sweeping and resume milling and paving work over the coming weeks to bring motorists a smoother, safer ride.
On the I-68 Crosstown Bridge in Cumberland, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) will be cleaning winter debris from the bridge and its drains.
Weather permitting, lane closures on the Crosstown Bridge are scheduled as follows:
• Tuesday, April 7: Eastbound I-68 left lane closed 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Wednesday and Thursday, April 8 and 9: Eastbound I-68 right lane closed 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Monday, April 13: Westbound I-68 left lane closed 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Tuesday and Wednesday, April 14 and 15: Westbound I-68 right lane closed 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Ramps will remain open during the cleaning operations with travel lanes narrowed.
Meanwhile to the west, milling and paving will be underway as crews polish off the new driving surfaces on the approaches to the I-68 bridges over Kelly Boulevard and Patterson Avenue, completing a $10 million bridge rehabilitation project that began in 2013. The completed bridges have been open to traffic over the winter, but the final paving was delayed until warmer temperatures.
SHA has coordinated the lane closures for the Crosstown Bridge cleaning with the milling and paving work to minimize traffic impacts. However, drivers should plan for extra travel time and use caution in the work areas.
SHA reminds drivers to always expect the unexpected, pay extra close attention and drive slowly through any work zone. Whether it’s a tree trimming operation or a bridge project, be aware when orange is there: Think Orange (the color of construction equipment and signs), stay alert and slow down. Everyone is at risk. In four out of five work zone-related crashes, it is the driver or passenger who is injured or killed. In 2014, nine people lost their lives in Maryland work zone crashes, including four highway workers. While SHA and its transportation partners work hard to keep traffic safely moving in work zones, please partner with us because work zone safety is everyone’s business – slow down and stay alert. Safer driving. Safer work zones. For everyone.
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