(April 2, 2013) – If weather permits, on Wednesday night, April 3 the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) will temporarily close
MD 372 (Wilkens Avenue) at I-695 (Baltimore Beltway) overnight for approximately ten nights. The temporary closure and detour of Wilkens Avenue at I-695 will allow crews to set new structural steel beams over Wilkens Avenue for the second half of the new northbound I-695 (Baltimore Beltway inner loop) bridge over Wilkens Avenue.
Wilkens Avenue Closure/Detour Schedule – Weeks of April 3 and April 8:
11 p.m. – 5 a.m. eastbound Wilkens Avenue closed at I-695. Detour: Southbound I-695 (outer loop) to Exit 12A, Leeds Avenue to northbound I-695 (inner loop) to Exit 12 B/C back to eastbound Wilkens Avenue.
11 p.m. – 5 a.m. westbound Wilkens Avenue closed at I-695. Detour: Kenwood Avenue to northbound I-695 (inner loop) past Exit 13, MD 144 (Frederick Road) to Exit 14, Edmondson Avenue, to southbound I-695 (outer loop) past Exit 13 to Exit 12 B/C back to westbound Wilkens Avenue.
All lanes will remain open on I-695 over Wilkens Avenue during the overnight bridge work. Crews will open all lanes of traffic on eastbound and westbound Wilkens Avenue no later than 5 a.m. each day. Crews will work weeknights, Sunday through Thursday, until all steel beams are in place.
In case of inclement weather next week, the overnight closures on Wilkens Avenue will resume Sunday night, April 8.
Nearly 23,000 vehicles use this section of Wilkens Avenue daily. Motorists traveling late at night are encouraged to plan for extra travel time on the detour routes.
The late-night road closures are part of a $13 million construction project to replace the northbound I-695 bridge over Wilkens Avenue. The first half of the new bridge was complete November 2012. SHA’s contractor for the work is The Six-M Company of Delta, PA. The project will be complete fall 2013, weather permitting.
SHA will use electronic message boards, construction barrels and cones and arrow boards to guide motorists through the work zone. As crews work to keep work zones safe, 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 Web site. Remember to use 511 safely - Maryland law prohibits hand-held mobile phone use and texting while driving.
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