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(September 23, 2015) – Beginning Monday, September 28 the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) will shift all southbound US 301 (Blue Star Memorial Highway) traffic onto the right shoulder between MD 305 (Hope Road) and MD 304 (Ruthsburg Road) in Queen Anne’s County. In conjunction with this shift, the US 301 J-turn north of MD 304 (Ruthsburg Road) will be closed. Motorists traveling on westbound MD 304 to southbound US 301 should continue north on US 301 and use the J-turn just beyond MD 305.
This new traffic pattern will be in place for approximately two months as crews work to construct a box culvert system that will carry a stream under US 301. Motorists, particularly morning commuters and truckers, are urged to plan ahead and consider alternate routes and off-peak travel times if possible.
The current northbound US 301 configuration, with the left travel lane open and a stop condition for traffic coming from westbound MD 304, will remain in place at this time. A shift to the right lane is expected sometime in October.
(SHA photo: The floor of a large box culvert system takes shape
along the northbound lanes of US. 301. This structure will eventually carry a stream from the wooded area under US 301. A series of similar culverts is being constructed along southbound US 301 to provide stream continuity through the new interchange and roundabout areas.)
These temporary changes will allow crews to safely work in the US 301 median and adjacent lanes. This phase of work includes building the box culvert system, a key environmental step in the overall project to create the new grade-separated interchange with roundabouts at US 301 and MD 304. With a 24/7 pumping operation, SHA is maintaining stream flow throughout construction. This helps ensure downstream wildlife across US 301 have an adequate water supply, and prevents the stream from flooding the nearby wooded habitat during heavy rains.
(SHA graphic: Map of project area.)
SHA awarded the $30 million construction contract to David A. Bramble of Chestertown. An average of 20,000 vehicles travel this portion of US 301 each day.
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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