The Maryland SHA project to widen I-70 near South Street in Frederick will reach a milestone this weekend when crews shift westbound traffic onto the newly constructed outer lanes and reopen the ramp from Monocacy Boulevard to westbound I-70.
CONTACT: Susan Harding, Public Information Officer, 301-600-1385
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, October 3, 2012
TRAFFIC SHIFT, RAMP REOPENING SCHEDULED THIS WEEKEND AS I-70 WIDENING PROJECT MOVES FORWARD IN FREDERICK
Westbound I-70 near South Street to be Reduced to One Lane Saturday Night for Shift onto New Roadway
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Frederick, MD -- The Maryland State Highway Administration’s (SHA) project to widen I-70 near South Street in Frederick will reach a milestone this weekend when crews shift westbound traffic onto the newly constructed outer lanes and reopen the ramp from Monocacy Boulevard to westbound I-70.
Weather permitting, crews will begin the process of shifting westbound I-70 traffic onto the new lanes at 6 p.m. Saturday, October 6th, and complete the shift by mid-morning Sunday, October 7th. During the shift, traffic on westbound I-70 will be reduced to a single lane.
When the shift is complete, crews will also reopen the ramp from Monocacy Boulevard to westbound I-70, which has been closed since August. Initially, traffic on this ramp will have to yield to traffic on I-70 (no merge area), as was the case before the closure, but when the project is complete next summer, traffic from the ramp will have a continuous lane to the MD 85 (Buckeystown Pike) exit.
Later this month, crews will perform a similar shift for eastbound I-70 traffic and will reopen the eastbound on and off ramps of I-70 at the South Street interchange.
The work is part of SHA’s project to widen I-70 from east of MD 144 to west of South Street and replace the I-70 bridges over South Street. Shifting traffic onto the newly constructed road and bridge sections to the outside of the existing ones will allow crews to demolish the old South Street bridges and construct the second phase (inner portion) of the new bridge and roadway.
SHA’s contractor for the project is Corman Construction of Annapolis Junction. Anyone with questions about the I-70 project may call the project’s 24-hour hotline at 855-213-0070.
While SHA and its 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 – look for reduced speed limits, narrow driving lanes and highway workers. Slow down and don't follow too closely. Safer Driving. Safer Work Zones. For everyone!
Maryland now features FREE 511 traveler information! Call 511 or 1-855-GOMD511 or visit www.md511.org for current travel information. Sign up to personalize travel route information through MY511 on the website. Remember to use 511 safely – Maryland law prohibits hand-held mobile phone use and texting while driving.
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