Posted on 10/17/2014 10:31:12 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Maryland's top transportation officials visited Washington County Thursday to discuss area road projects, including the construction of a new bridge on busy Interstate 81 over the Potomac River.
The tour is an annual ritual, in which state transportation officials meet with local officials and state lawmakers to discuss the Maryland Department of Transportation's six-year capital budget.
Among state officials attending the discussion at the Hagerstown library was Wilson Parran, deputy secretary of the transportation department, and Melinda Peters, who heads the Maryland State Highway Administration.
Peters said that construction of the $43 million I-81 bridge will begin in the fall of 2016.
“It’s about a four-year construction project in order to make sure that we are maintaining two lanes of traffic at all times,” she said. “It will be completed about the summer of 2020. The project includes reconstruction of the bridge over the Potomac River."
Once completed, the bridge will accommodate three lanes of traffic in either direction. The three-lane extension will go up all the way up to MD 63, Peters said.
The district office of the SHA continues to study possible improvements around the interchanges on I-81 and I-70, she said.
Peters said that the SHA is looking at the possibility of making some ramp modifications.
“That work is under design now, and we are aiming for 2016-2017 to try and get that into the construction program. So we have them looking at short-term improvements that can be made to the interchange ramps in that area to progress ahead of any future widening projects,” Peters said.
She said the bridge and the addition of a third lane were “progress in the right direction.”
“There’s not any additional improvements beyond system-preservation projects in the six-year program,” said Peters, when asked about the possibility of widening the entire 12-mile stretch of I-81 in Maryland.
“I think we understand the priorities that have been emphasized here today, and we will continue to look at where there are incremental improvements that can be made along the corridor. Obviously, taking on a 12-mile stretch all at one time is a significant commitment,” Peters said.
Parran said he heard “loud and clear” that the expansion of I-81 to three lanes on either side is a priority.
“We knew in the past it has been a priority, and it remains a priority, so it will be considered as we build additional consolidated transportation budgets,” he said.
Del. Andrew Serafini, R-Washington, the chairman of the Washington County legislative delegation, cited the increasing traffic on I-81 and frequent accidents.
Hagerstown Councilman Martin Brubaker also raised concerns about the interstate.
“You are going to have Maryland be the jam-up. You are going to have traffic sitting across the bridge (if I-81 is not extended in the rest of the state),” Brubaker said.
Other projects discussed at the meeting included the Professional Boulevard Corridor project, where a new road and bridge will be constructed to connect Eastern Boulevard and Robinwood Drive.
The state has sanctioned $1.12 million for designing that bridge. The estimated construction cost of the network of roads is about $30 million.
Maryland “Freak State” PING!
No money or plans for expansion, despite population growth.
I am sure if you pressed them, gov't officials would say more people need to take mass transit.
Just like in Frederick and Carroll counties....housing developments going up everywhere, but no new roads or road upgrades. Just re-hardtopping every summer to cover up the pot-holes and keep highway crews occupied.
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