Jul. 5, 2012
The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) will begin a resurfacing project this Sunday, July 8, on both U.S. Rt. 219 (East Oak Street and South 3rd Street) and Md. Rt. 39 (East Oak Street) in Oakland.
SHA will mill, resurface, and restripe Rt. 219 between 8th Street and Center Street, as well as Rt. 39 from South 3rd Street to the Little Youghi-ogheny River Bridge. Weather permitting, the project will be complete by the end of July.
Motorists should anticipate lane closures on both routes between 5 p.m. and 5 a.m. Sunday evenings through Friday mornings. No parking will be permitted on Rt. 219 from 8th Street to Center Street between 4 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday evenings through Friday mornings.
SHA will use variable message boards, temporary signs, cones, and barrels, along with flagging operations to guide motorists through the work zone.
According to SHA, more than 15,000 vehicles per day use Rt. 219, and about 6,000 vehicles per day use Rt. 39 in the project area, so motorists should prepare for delays.
SHA awarded the $4.5 million contract to Keystone Lime of Springs, Pa. Customers who have questions about the work may contact Beverly Blank, project engineer, at 301-895-3234.
Anyone with questions about traffic operations along Rt. 219 or other state numbered routes in Garrett County may also call SHA’s District 6 Office at 301-729-8400 or toll free at 800-760-7138.
More here.
— Buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland? Call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues!
From Staff Reports Cumberland Times-News
GRANTSVILLE — The Maryland State Highway Administration has begun a project to clean and paint eight bridges in Garrett County.
Most work will occur below the bridges; however, daytime single-lane closures could happen Mondays through Thursdays between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., and Fridays from 6 a.m. to noon. SHA will provide variable message signs, drums and arrow boards to guide motorists through the work zone. The projects should be completed by fall, weather permitting.
Titan Industries of Baltimore was awarded the $1.2 million contract to work at the following locations.
• State Route 38 over the North Branch of the Potomac River in Kitzmiller.
• Water Street over the Youghiogheny River in Friendsville.
• East and westbound spans of Interstate 68 over Water Street and the Youghiogheny River.
• Frost Road over I-68 near Grantsville.
• U.S. Route 219 over I-68 in Grantsville.
• East and westbound spans of I-68/U.S. 219 over Shade Hollow Road in Grantsville.
Maryland now features free traveler information by calling 511 or 855-GOMD511 or go to www.md511.org. Questions about the bridge projects may be directed to SHA’s District 6 Office at 301-729-8400 or 800-760-7138.
SHA recently announced road work and bridge projects in Allegany County as well with a $3.3 million contract for improvements at the U.S. Route 220/I-68 interchange. SHA will spend $879,000 for bridge paintings in the county and $850,000 to upgrade traffic barriers in both Allegany and Garrett counties.
More here.
Buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland? Call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues!
From Staff Reports Cumberland Times-News
2012 — CUMBERLAND — Nearly 40 percent of the salt put on Maryland state highways this past winter was scattered onto asphalt in Garrett, Allegany and Washington counties, according to Kellie Boulware of the State Highway Administration.
However, those 30,698 tons of salt in those three counties and the 82,702 tons statewide was 68 percent below the five-year average usage of 261,000 tons.
Garrett County easily led the state in snowfall with 86 inches. Elsewhere, rain and sleet were the most common weather events that needed attention, according to Boulware.
The highway agency budgeted $36 million for winter operations, but spent $30.8 million. The five-year average expenditure is $68.5 million. The costs this past winter were the second lowest during the past 10 years.
Money remaining in the winter operational budget will be used for other maintenance such as safety and resurfacing.
Boulware said SHA takes a proactive approach to winter road operations, relying on latest weather forecasts. Several times this past winter predictions of one to four inches of snow resulted in rain or no precipitation.
Crews were called out not only in the Frederick area, but also in the Washington and Baltimore metro locales up to 15 times. Boulware said nearly all of the responses were at night or on weekends, resulting in overtime expenses.
“With little or no snowfall in some parts of Maryland, SHA construction crews were able to perform construction work that normally would not have progressed during the winter months,” Boulware said.
“For example, crews were able to pour concrete for bridge deck replacement projects. During a normal winter, this work could not occur because of low temperatures, therefore having a few warm weather days was a great benefit,” she said.
More here.
Buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland? Call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues!
BY CALEB CALHOUN
caleb.calhoun@herald-mail.com
10:32 a.m. EST, November 9, 2011
HAGERSTOWN— The Maryland State Highway Administration put its new TowPLow on display at its Hagerstown office Wednesday morning.
“I think this will be very effective in Maryland,” SHA District Engineer Tony Crawford said. “We are always looking for new ways to improve our winter operations.”
The TowPLow, unveiled at the SHA District 6 office in LaVale, Md., on Monday, is a device that is attached to a regular plow truck to increase efficiency in snow plowing, particularly on interstate highways, Crawford said.
Buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland? Call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues!
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Oct. 13, 2011
Maryland Department of Transportation (DOT)and State Highway Administration (SHA) personnel conducted their annual consultation meeting with local officials and residents last Friday morning at the courthouse.
Each fall, transportation and highway officials visit Baltimore City and every county in the state to present their six-year Consolidated Transportation Program draft and to review local priorities and funding needs.
Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Beverley Swaim-Staley indicated Garrett County’s requests are small compared to other areas of the state.
“Garrett County, you all are modest in your requests,” Swaim-Staley said. “If we were to add up all of the 24 jurisdictions’ number one priorities, they would total over $12 billion.”
She noted, however, that even if the DOT’s funding level were increased by $1 billion, which would be a significant level, it would take a “very, very long time” to complete each one of those priorities.
“We continue to have significant funding challenges, as a country and as a state,” Swaim-Staley said.
Buying or selling real estate in Garrett County or Deep Creek Lake, Maryland? Call Jay Ferguson of Railey Realty for all of your real estate needs! I take great pride in referrals, and I assure you, I will take great care of your friends, family & colleagues!
Nov. 25, 2010
The Keyser’s Ridge garage of the Maryland State Highway Administration is ready for the snow forecast for Garrett County on Friday, according Charlie Gischlar, SHA Communications, Baltimore.
“We’re totally ready for anything Mother Nature sends us,” Gischlar said.
Western Maryland – Garrett, Allegany, and Washington counties –received an average of 156 inches of snow last winter. Garrett County alone, however, received more than 260 inches.
Currently, there are 7 tons of rock and solar (sodium chloride) salt at the ready in the three SHA “salt barns” located in Garrett County. Statewide, there are 340,000 tons of the materials in 96 barns. Gischlar noted that SHA will try to restock those supplies after every storm.
Statewide, SHA also has 35,000 tons of abrasives (sand, etc.), 60 tons of calcium chloride, 675,000 gallons of salt brine, 50,000 gallons of magnesium chloride, 4,500 gallons of potassium acetate (used in automated bridge anti-icing systems), and 30,000 gallons of Geo Melt 55 at the ready for the 2010-2011 winter season.
Gischlar also reported that SHA will introduce a new “proactive” anti-icing strategy in Garrett County and elsewhere in the state this winter. Prior to or at the onset of snow, SHA crews will spray salt brine (liquid sodium chloride) on I-68, Rt. 219, and Rt. 40 in order to prevent snow and ice from bonding to the pavement.
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The Maryland State Highway Administration is prepared for anything Mother Nature may have in store this winter, according Charlie Gischlar, SHA Communications. The administration has stockpiled tons of abrasives and deicing materials, has hundreds of snow plows at the ready, and will implement a new proactive anti-icing strategy involving salt brine and an organic material called “beet juice.” See story. The Keyser’s Ridge SHA garage crews may soon get a chance to try out that plan, as snow is in the forecast this Friday. But, hopefully, the white stuff won’t be nearly the amount pictured above, as residents are still reeling from the more than 260 inches of snow that fell on the county last winter. Photo courtesy of SHA.
Kevin Spradlin
Cumberland Times-News Wed Sep 22, 2010, 10:04 AM EDT
9/22 — CUMBERLAND — Perhaps for the first time in a long time, organizers of the annual Mountain Maryland PACE reception and legislative breakfast in Annapolis have latched on to a talking point on which jurisdictions across Maryland can agree.
The No. 1 priority for elected officials and business professionals alike, said PACE committee co-chairman David Moe, is to convince lawmakers to restore highway user revenue funds, which have been taken by Gov. Martin O’Malley to shore up the state’s budget.
Moe said the message of the 35th annual event, scheduled for Jan. 27 and 28, will convey in part how leaders in Garrett and Allegany counties have struggled to cope with the state budget cuts to local governments.
“The cut in highway user funds has been devastating for all municipalities,” Moe said. “It just cannot continue.”
More than a dozen PACE Committee members met Sept. 15 at Penn Alps Restaurant in Grantsville to begin planning for the 2011 event.
Other talking points are likely to include ensuring that funding of teacher pensions remains a state obligation — and is not shifted to Maryland counties — as well as Garrett County’s new strategic plan that is about to be published.
At the committee’s Sept. 29 meeting at the same location, Moe said this year’s theme should be finalized.
In January 2010, the theme was “Think Green, Think Mountain Maryland.” So far, 21 possible themes are being considered for the next PACE. Options include “The Summit of Success,” “Back to the Future,” A Place to Do Business” and “Getting There From Here.”
“It’s always a challenge to come up with something that’s unique,” Moe said. “The idea is to get state government to remember Western Maryland doesn’t end at Frederick.”
He said the theme does not necessarily have to incorporate the services and offerings of displayers, which often range from utility companies, defense contractors, tourism-related operations and higher education.
Attendance in 2010 was down by a little more than one-third, Moe said. However, the number of displayers and sponsorship dollars both were up.
PACE is a joint effort between the Cumberland-Allegany County Industrial Foundation and the Garrett Development Corp.
Kevin Spradlin can be reached at kspradlin@times-news.com
It happens in an instant. Driving through a suburban or rural area and a deer jumps in your path. What do you do? The Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) is providing tips to help avoid crashes involving deer and other nocturnal animals….
Here are some tips to minimize the risk of hitting a deer:
• Be extra attentive between sunset and sunrise – this is when deer primarily feed;
• Use your high beams when appropriate to illuminate the eyes of deer;
• “Never veer for deer” – brake firmly but do not jerk the steering wheel. Sudden movements could cause a more serious crash with a fixed object or another motorist;
• Be cautious—if you see one deer it’s likely part of a herd;
• Obey deer crossing signs placed in areas known for high deer populations;
• Always wear your seat belt;
• Avoid distractions like cell phones, food and radios; and always
• Always drive sober.
If a collision is unavoidable and you do hit a deer, be sure to consider the following:
• Do not touch the deer. An injured deer can hurt you and further injure itself;
• If possible, move your car off to a safe location to avoid a secondary crash with another vehicle; and
• Call the police and try to be as specific as possible about the location.
Over the years, SHA has used some innovative approaches to assist with the high number of deer crossings.
…In Garrett County, SHA recently installed high fencing to not only prevent deer from crossing, but also Black Bear and other large animals.
Residents or motorists that notice a deer that has been struck should log onto roads.maryland.gov and click “Contact Us” for an online service submission form to have the animal removed. A complete list of SHA’s maintenance shops is also located on the website.
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