Work to begin on Rt. 1 bridge

Work is to begin soon on replacing the U.S. Rt. 1 bridge over the Little Gunpowder Falls at the Baltimore/Harford County line. According to a Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) new release, the project will involve replacing the present span with a 107-foot long bridge that will carry four lanes of traffic. The roadway will be realigned, shifted about 20 feet west to reduce a sharp curve on the approach to the bridge. Approximately  23,000 vehicles travel the highway at the county line each day, according to SHA figures.

American Infrastructure, Inc., of Fallston is the contractor on the $4.8 million project, which also involves removing three existing buildings along Rt. 1, a new gravel parking lot and trail for the Gunpowder Falls State Park, creating pedestrian access to the trail beneath bridge and installing road and trail signs.

The work, to be done in two phases, is expected to be completed in the fall of 2010.
During construction, there will be temporary lane closings between New Cut Road in Baltimore County and Reckord Road in Harford County between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday, and between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. Sunday though Thursday. There will be no lane closings between 2 p.m. Friday and 7 p.m. Sunday.

The SHA urges motorists to be alert and drive carefully near highway work zones, which include not only construction sites, but also mobile operations such as mowing and litter clean up.

For more information, call 1-800-962-3077 or email shadistrict4@sha.state.md.