(August 13, 2014) – The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) is wrapping up a project to improve safety on MD 494 (Fairview Road) at Fairview Church Road in Washington County. The project eliminated a sharp curve that restricted sight distance on MD 494 and replaces it with an intersection which includes a stop sign.

 

“In order to improve safety and reduce the possibility of vehicles approaching the intersection too fast, our engineers studied the traffic pattern and decided an intersection with a stop sign would be the best approach,” SHA District Engineer Anthony Crawford said.

 

Before the project, traffic on westbound MD 494 split, with MD 494 traffic continuing around a curve to the left and Fairview Church Road continuing north.  Fairview Church Road had a stop sign and traffic on MD 494 did not stop as it traveled around the bend. The $700,000 project realigned MD 494 approximately 100 feet north to intersect perpendicular with Fairview Church Road, creating a T-intersection with stop signs for traffic on the eastbound MD 494 and southbound Fairview Church Road approaches. The project also included drainage improvements and adding bicycle-compatible shoulders on both roads.

 

Construction began in the spring and will be complete late August, weather permitting. The realigned roadway and new intersection opened July 10, and crews are completing paving, striping, sign and rumble strip installation,and drainage improvements. SHA’s contractor is C. William Hetzer, Inc. of Hagerstown.

 

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!

 

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