(July 10, 2015) – The ramp from northbound US 11 (Williamsport Pike) to northbound I-81 in Washington County will be closed beginning Monday, July 13, due to bridge work.
During the ramp closure, which will last approximately five weeks, detour signs will direct drivers on northbound
US 11 wishing to access northbound I-81 to turn right onto Governor Lane Boulevard, follow it about two miles, then make a right onto MD 68 and exit right onto northbound I-81.
The Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) will be repairing the nearby US 11 bridge over I-81, using part of the merge area from the closed ramp for access to the bridge supports. The detour will provide a safer way for motorists to access the interstate during construction while also affording a safer work area to construction crews. Weather permitting, the ramp will reopen by late August.
The $1.9 million bridge rehabilitation project will also include overlaying the driving surface of the US 11 bridge with latex modified concrete to provide a smoother ride and extend the service life of the bridge. Motorists in the area should be prepared for temporary lane closures during off-peak hours. SHA’s contractor for the project is East Coast Bridge, LLC, of St. Alban’s, W.Va.
Those who would like more information on the bridge repair project may contact the SHA District 6 Office at 301-729-8400. In addition to this project, drivers may also encounter mobile or short-term work zones. Click here for a listing of major SHA projects in Maryland.
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.