One-Year Project Continues Governor Hogan’s Commitment to Eliminate Structurally Deficient Bridges, Improve Infrastructure Statewide

 
(June 2, 2016) – The Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) is replacing two northbound US 301 (Blue Star Memorial Highway) bridge decks in Queen Anne’s County.  The bridges, over MD 290 (Dudley Corner Road) and Red Lion Branch, were constructed in 1955.

Construction begins mid-June.  Work includes replacing both bridge decks (driving surfaces), steel repairs, constructing abutment back walls and wing walls, cleaning and painting structural steel and strengthening and preserving piers with fiber-reinforced polymer wrap that will help further protect the bridge from corrosion due to the elements. The project also includes 3,000 feet of roadway improvements.  This work will be completed by fall 2017, weather permitting.

To maintain traffic during construction, work will proceed in two phases with one-half of each bridge deck replaced at a time.  A single-lane closure will be in place throughout the project on US 301.  To help ensure the safety of workers and motorists, SHA will maintain the lane closure between the bridges, a distance of less than 1,500 feet.  Motorists should reduce speed through the work zone and be alert for vehicles entering and exiting the travel lane.  Farmers and agricultural equipment operators/delivery drivers are advised that the lane closure may restrict wide-load access through the work zone.

The northbound US 301 span over MD 290 is rated structurally deficient due to deterioration of the deck surface.  While the bridge remains safe for travel, the rating means the bridge deck is nearing the end of its useful service life.  Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has pledged nearly $2 billion to address transportation infrastructure needs including the repair of all structurally deficient, state-owned bridges.  Of the more than 2,500 bridges SHA maintains, 70 were considered structurally deficient in 2015.

 

 

 

The northbound US 301 bridge over Red Lion Branch is included in this contract due to its proximity to the bridge over MD 290 and that both bridges are more than 60 years old.  Replacing both decks under one contract saves money and reduces public impacts by consolidating the work zones and completing both bridges in one year.

SHA awarded a $4.9 million construction contract to Brawner Builders of Hunt Valley.  An average of 11,000 vehicles travel this portion of US 301 each day.  See location maps on next page.

While SHA and its transportation 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 and look for reduced speed limits, narrow driving lanes and highway workers.  Slow down and don’t follow too closely. Work Zone Safety is in Your Hands.

A complete listing of current roadway projects is included in e-Road Ready 2016, the online brochure. Maryland drivers can also know before they go by calling 511 or visiting www.md511.org for live traffic updates, including construction delays and lane closures.