The Maryland State Highway Administration is rehabilitating two bridges on northbound and southbound I-270 over MD 80 (Fingerboard Road) and Bennett Creek in Frederick County.


Both bridges are structurally sound but are in need of preventive maintenance to extend their service life after decades of carrying more than 82,000 vehicles a day. Weather permitting, the $8.9 million project will be completed in fall 2012.

In addition to replacing the bridge decks, crews will also clean, repaint, and make minor repairs to the steel girders beneath the bridge and bridge abutments. Protective coatings on the structural steel prevent corrosion and are designed to last approximately 30 years. Preventive maintenance will reduce the need for costly repairs in the future.

To keep lanes operating during I-270 construction, SHA will use temporary bridges in the median to maintain traffic on northbound and southbound I-270. Traffic along northbound and southbound I-270 will be switched to the median to enable crews to replace the bridges in phases. Motorists should be prepared for nighttime single lane closure on I-270 during construction.

As part of the project crews will also lengthen the deceleration lane by approximately 100 feet on southbound I-270 to MD 80 to allow drivers additional area to reduce speed prior to entering the ramp. Motorists traveling on MD 80 should expect single lane closures Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

To maintain a safer working environment for crews and motorists, the speed camera program will monitor speeds through the work. Crews also use "speed trailers" to display the posted speed limit and drivers' speeds in advance of the enforcement vehicle. Maryland speed camera mobile enforcement vehicles using laser technology will continue to rotate among eligible work zones throughout the state.