Motorists Should Expect Daytime Lane Closures on Both Interstates

(July 6, 2018) – Later this month, the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) will begin two projects to resurface sections of I-68 (National Freeway) and I-70 in Washington County. Both projects will be complete mid-fall.

Beginning in approximately 10 days, MDOT SHA will begin a project to resurface I-68 between the Allegany/Washington County line and the bridge over Mountain Road. The 1.5-mile project will be complete by the end of summer.

The $2.9 million project includes patching, paving and restriping I-68 near Sideling Hill. MDOT SHA’s contractor, P & W Excavating, Inc. of Mcconnellsburg, PA, are permitted to close a single lane and shoulder between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Arrow boards and construction barrels will be used to guide motorists through the work zone. Nearly 18,200 vehicles travel on this section of I-68 each day.

This section I-68 was last resurfaced in 1996.

In late-July, MDOT SHA’s contractor, C. William Hetzer, Inc. of Hagerstown, will begin a $3 million project to resurface westbound I-70 between MD 615 and MD 56 in Big Pool and Hancock, Washington County. The safety and resurfacing project will be complete mid-November.

Crews will patch, mill (remove the top layer of asphalt) pave and restripe 5.5-miles of westbound I-70. Motorists can expect daytime single lane and shoulder closures Mondays through Fridays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Other work includes upgrading guardrail in the project limits.

Last resurfaced in 1995, this section of I-70 carries approximately 45,000 vehicles per day, including a high percentage of commercial truck traffic.

As of June 30, which was the end of the State’s 2018 fiscal year, MDOT SHA has resurfaced or treated half of all state highway lane miles since 2015. This milestone marks the improvement of nearly 8,500 lane miles, calculated by miles of highway multiplied by the number of lanes, improving safety and enhancing the customer experience for millions of drivers across the state.

While MDOT 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. For a list of all major MDOT SHA projects, click on Road Ready, MDOT SHA's electronic construction brochure. For a look at real-time commute conditions, log onto www.md511.org.