Motorists Should Expect Single Lane Closures and Flagging Operations during Construction

(May 13, 2016) – Beginning next week, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) will improve safety and ride quality along nearly two miles of MD 7 (Philadelphia Road) between MD 24 (Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway) and Abingdon Road in Harford County.  The $2 million project will be complete spring 2017, weather permitting.

The project includes: pavement removal, paving and restriping; replacing and repairing drainage inlets; repairing drainage ditches; replacing and repairing concrete curb and gutter; replacing and repairing guardrail; and upgrading traffic signals.

SHA’s contractor, Manuel Luis Construction Co. Inc. of Baltimore, will use flagpersons, cones and barrels to safely guide drivers through the work zone.  Nearly 13,000 vehicles use this section of MD 7 each day. To minimize traffic delays, crews will work Mondays through Fridays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and Sundays through Thursdays between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m.  Motorists are encouraged to plan for extra driving time and consider US 40 (Pulaski Highway) as an alternate route to avoid construction-related travel delays.  For the latest real-time commuter information, log onto www.md511.org

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.