86-Year Old Dorchester County Bridge to be Painted, Repaired Beginning in August

(July 12, 2017) – The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) is extending the service life of the MD 14 (Rhodesdale-Eldorado Road) bridge over Marshyhope Creek (Brookview Bridge) in the town of Brookview.  Beginning next week MDOT SHA will blast clean and prime steel components of the bridge center section in advance of repair work.  This will remove the existing paint, rust, dirt, and salt giving inspectors a clear view of structural components to accurately plan repairs.

Because the blast cleaning and painting equipment must be staged on the bridge, motorists can expect single lane closures and flagging across the bridge from sunrise to sunset any day of the week.  Lane width will be 10 feet across the bridge – over-width vehicles including some agricultural equipment may not be able to cross during work hours.  With good weather, the cleaning and paint work should be completed by the end of August.

MDOT SHA expects to begin the steel repairs later this year.  This work will include replacing portions of the steel center section railing and repair of various steel components below the bridge deck.  These repairs will extend the service life of the 86-year old bridge, located eight miles south of Federalsburg and 15 miles east of Cambridge.  The bridge carries about 1,400 vehicles each day and provides an important local and agricultural link among many eastern shore towns including Hurlock, Brookview, Vienna, Rhodesdale and Eldorado.

The 116-foot long structure was originally constructed in 1931.  Marshyhope Creek feeds into the Nanticoke River just south of Brookview.

 

 

(MDOT SHA photo:  MD 14 Bridge over Marshyhope Creek.)

The cleaning, painting and repair work will be performed by various contractors under an areawide bridge maintenance contract.

The e-Road Ready 2017 electronic construction brochure is now available by clicking here.  The e-brochure highlights major road construction and maintenance projects in each of MDOT SHA’s seven engineering districts which cover Maryland’s 23 counties.  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.