Traffic Will Be Detoured During Construction; Motorist Advised to Slow Down and Stay Alert

(August 26, 2016) – The Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) will begin a $3.5 million project to replace the deck (driving surface) of the eastbound US 40 Bridge/ramp over the westbound US 40 ramp to I-70 in Frederick County beginning early September.  The project should be complete by spring 2017, weather permitting. 

As construction begins, SHA will close the bridge/ramp and shift travel lanes in both directions of US 40, allowing eastbound and westbound traffic to use the westbound roadway.  SHA’s contractor will place a concrete barrier between opposite direction traffic.  Two temporary traffic signals at Kehne Road will provide local access to US 40.

Additionally, SHA will close the westbound US 40 ramp to westbound I-70 between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. for two nights after the Labor Day holiday.  Crews will detour traffic from westbound US 40 to southbound MD 17 (Main Street) to westbound I-70.  The temporary closures allow crews to safely remove the bridge deck surface. 

 

 

SHA’s contractor for the bridge replacement is Anchor Construction Corporation of Washington, D.C.  Approximately 7,800 vehicles use the US 40 ramps daily.

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. Those who have questions about SHA projects in Frederick County may call the SHA District 7 Office at 1-729-8400, toll-free at 1-800-760-7138 or send email to shadistrict7@sha.state.md.us.