[SUFC] Road Work - For your Information

[Steve Ports]

STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION TEMPORARILY CLOSING RAMP FROM EASTBOUND
I-695 TO SOUTHBOUND HARFORD ROAD
ON JUNE 8 FOR UP TO TWO WEEKS

Ramp Realignment Work Part of "Parkville Streetscape" Project 

(June 3, 2009) - Beginning 10 a.m. Monday, June 8, the Maryland
Department of Transportation's State Highway Administration (SHA) will
temporarily close the ramp from eastbound I-695 (Baltimore Beltway Inner
Loop) to southbound MD 147 (Harford Road) for approximately two weeks
for ramp realignment work. 

This work is part of SHA's $9 million "Parkville Streetscape" project to
improve highway safety, traffic operations and aesthetics along two
miles of MD 147 (Harford Road) between the Baltimore City Line and Joppa
Road. As part of the project, SHA is realigning the end of the I-695
exit ramp where it meets Harford Road to improve safety and reduce
conflicts for motorists in the interchange area.  

While the ramp is closed, motorists traveling along eastbound I-695 to
southbound Harford Road will be directed to go past the ramp for
southbound Harford Road and go through the "cloverleaf" interchange to
reach southbound Harford Road (I-695 Inner Loop ramp to northbound
Harford Road, Harford Road ramp to Outer Loop I-695, then I-695 Outer
Loop ramp to southbound Harford Road).   SHA strongly encourages
motorists to plan for extra travel time, or to use alternative routes
such as MD 41 (Perring Parkway) or US 1 (Belair Road) to reach
destinations in the Parkville area south of I-695.   

The Harford Road project began in 2007 and will be complete in late
summer, weather permitting.  The project also includes: pavement
grinding, patching, and resurfacing; replacement of sidewalks where
needed; construction of Americans with Disabilities Act-compatible
sidewalks and ramps; new curbs, gutters, and drainage system
improvements; upgrades to existing traffic signals to include new
audible pedestrian signals and digital crossing time countdown signals;
and slight roadway widening at the Putty Hill Road intersection.  
 Aesthetic and environmental improvements include: corridor landscaping
and creation of "pocket parks"; brick accents along sidewalks and at
intersections; installation of new community gateway signs and new
street furniture.  

Work will continue along Harford Road throughout the summer; daytime
single lane closures along Harford Road may occur between 9 a.m. and 3
p.m., Monday through Friday.  Nighttime lane closures may occur between
7 p.m. and 5 a.m., Sunday through Thursday.  

SHA has hosted a series of community meetings to update area residents,
business owners and community leaders on the progress of the streetscape
project.    The final community update meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m.
on Monday, June 15 at the Parkville Senior Center, 8601 Harford Road.


	The State's contractor for the Harford Road project is Rustler
Construction of Lanham, Maryland.   SHA and the contractor appreciate
the community's understanding and patience during the temporary ramp
closure and detour, and remind all travelers to look ahead for temporary
traffic signs, changed travel patterns, and construction personnel and
equipment throughout the work zone.  

	For more information about the Harford Road project, citizens
may call SHA's local project field office in Parkville at 410-665-7441
or call SHA's District 4 Office - Construction Division at 410-321-2820
or toll- free at 1-800-962-3077.