Hogan announces start of $105 million I-81 widening

The Hagerstown Herald-Mail ^ | December 24, 2016 | CJ Lovelace

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan came to Hagerstown Thursday bearing gifts, announcing the start of a $105 million project to widen Interstate 81.

In partnership with West Virginia, the first phase of construction of the long-sought project, which recently got under way, will expand the heavily traveled interstate to six lanes from U.S. 11 in West Virginia to Md. 63 near Williamsport.

"These improvements to I-81 are critical infrastructure investments that will help citizens here in Washington County, across Western Maryland and all across our state go about their daily lives in a faster, more efficient and safer manner," Hogan said at a news conference before a large crowd in front of the The Maryland Theatre downtown.

The 5-mile stretch of work includes reconstruction of the Potomac River bridges and two bridges at the Md. 63 interchange, according to Hogan and a Maryland Department of Transportation news release.

Hogan was joined by Deputy Secretary of Transportation Jim Ports, who called Hogan "Maryland's Santa Claus," at the announcement attended by numerous state, local and business officials.

"It started off as a slogan, it became a promise and now it's a reality," Ports said. "Working in transportation for the Hogan administration is like Christmas morning every day ... because just like Santa Claus, we continue to deliver projects for Western Maryland."

Hogan said that another $5 million in state funds have been budgeted for design work of the second phase of widening, allowing the project to progress north to the Interstate 70 interchange.

He also announced that he has submitted an application for a federal FASTLANE grant to help pay for construction of the second and future phases, eventually widening the entire 12-mile portion of I-81 up to the Pennsylvania line to six lanes.

"This is a very important project, and it needs to happen," state Del. Neil C. Parrott said.

Parrott, R-Washington, and Hogan both stressed the importance of the Maryland General Assembly repealing the so-called "road kill" bill, which they claim could threaten nearly every transportation project in Maryland.

"If this bill is not defeated, we will not be able to compete" with proposed projects in metropolitan areas of the state, Parrott said, noting that the legislation ignores rural areas of Maryland and favors mass transit over road projects.

"We will not stop fighting until this catastrophic bill is repealed," said Hogan, who vetoed the bill this past spring before the legislature overrode it.

Expected to be completed by summer 2020, the first phase of I-81 work — paid for by $65 million from Maryland and $40 million from West Virginia — will include new stormwater-management systems, upgraded lighting, as well as new signs and guardrails to enhance safety along the corridor, according to state officials.

During the construction, work beneath the Potomac River bridges won't impact traffic as crews build new bridge piers to hold the two additional lanes of travel. Two travel lanes will be maintained throughout the project.

[RegulatorCountry]

Ancestors were in Goochland County, VA way back, colonial era. Baptists. Run out by the Episcopalian authorities, ended up in NC where they remained, mine at least, quite a few of the younger sons went west when TN opened up.

I found a sort of amusing YouTube video of I-40 heading west from Asheville to Newport, low and slow with camping trailer in tow and the chattiest lady, she just goes on and on about the sights they’ve seen and places they’ve stayed. More pleasant than annoying, they sound like they’d be fun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66qjE_qSjnU

[DoughtyOne]

Of course. If it’s an airhead idea that does nothing at all to help the situation, and in fact makes it worse, who else you gonna call?

The DNC or more realistically, Congress period.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Maryland “Freak State” PING!