From the Maryland State Highway Administration:
Alternate Routes between Abingdon and Belcamp Include US 40 (Pulaski Highway) and I-95 (John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway)
The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) will close the MD 7 (Philadelphia Road) bridge over James Run in Harford County mid-June to remove and replace the structure. Weather permitting; SHA will open the new bridge to traffic late August.
The bridge, built in 1924, is safe for travel; however, it is nearing the end of its useful life and needs to be replaced. SHA will build a new, slightly wider two-lane bridge with five-foot shoulders on both sides of the travel lanes to improve safety. The new single-span bridge will not have a center support pier in the stream and will be approximately two feet higher than the old bridge to improve water flow along James Run.
“SHA is closing the road entirely to expedite the bridge replacement and reopen MD 7 to traffic before the start of the school year,” said SHA District Engineer Dave Peake. “During the closure, motorists should plan extra travel time for travel on MD 7.”
The bridge closure and detour may begin any day after Thursday, June 12 when the Harford County Public School year ends. SHA will place digital message signs along MD 7 two weeks prior to the start of the project.
During the summer bridge closure, MD 7 will be open for local traffic only north and south of the bridge. All through travelers – motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians – traveling on MD 7 between Abingdon Road and MD 543 (Riverside Parkway) will be directed to use US 40 (Pulaski Highway) as an alternate route. However, motorists may also use I-95 between Exit 77, MD 24 (Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway) and Exit 80, MD 543 as an alternate route.
The bridge carries approximately 11,630 vehicles per day; the bridge closure is scheduled for the summer months when traffic volumes are lower and Harford County Public Schools are closed. SHA will make every effort to complete the work and reopen the bridge as quickly as possible to minimize inconvenience to the community and through travelers.
The $2 million bridge replacement project includes: removal of the two-span concrete girder and slab bridge; construction of a new single span prestressed concrete bridge; reconstruction of the roadway approaches to the bridge; installation of new traffic signs and pavement markings; construction of new stormwater management facilities along MD 7; and landscaping in the project area. The entire project will be complete fall 2014, weather permitting. Click here for more information on this project.
SHA’s contractor for the project is Daisy Concrete Inc. of Newport, Delaware. Citizens who have concerns or questions about the bridge project may contact SHA’s District Four Office – Construction Division at 410-229-2420, toll-free at 1-866-998-0367 or shadisttrict4@sha.state.md.us.
All they need to do now is close rt.40, rt1, 95 and the thugs from the city will stay where they are since they cant maps to find another route.
Sorry, insert READ after can’t
Wouldn’t 136 to Goat Hill Road to 543 be a much shorter detour than either of the options presented? You could even skip Goat Hill and it would still be shorter.
136 is being resurfaced this summer.
If you really knew, you’d know that 136 between Route’s 7, and 543 have already been resurfaced, and painted, except for a small 500′ or so section that’s already been ground but not paved or painted right near Goat Hill Road. The asphalt grinding equipment has already been relocated.
Maybe while they are at it, they could add a little bump out to the road where 136 and rt7 meet so people going staright dont have to wait 20minutes for someone to make a left on 136 during rush hour. if cars could pass the car making a left onto 136 it would clear up congestion.
You should find an alternative route to drive. There are hundreds of ways to get to the same location
You either drive longer without congestion one way, or you take the normal route and expect congestion.
That intersection is only congested for an hour and a half at most per day.
It does not help the fact a majority of automobile operators are assholes in this county, tailgating, speeding, wreckless driving, distracted driving.
Those people making a left hand turn would have no issue if all the assholes going the other way realized that no matter how fast they go, and tailgate one another, a red light no doubt awaits them at route 7/Abingdon road.
I bet SHA isn’t happy how long its taking to rebuild the bridge.
So much for opening before school started.
Bel air, Fallston, Foresthill and Jarrettsville are loaded with A$$holes, it’s all about them, get out of my way, I’m more important than you. Nothing but a bunch of fakes and wannabes.
Yep, all rushing to get to that Fast food chick’um sammich place.
I had one stank skank in an fancy, stylish SUV blowing her horn, riding a foot behind my rear bumper, shaking her fist, yelling out the window all while a little kid sat in a car seat behind her. I guess I was driving too slow.
Assholes like that are why we have so many motor vehicle crashes everyday at the intersections.
Any day now? Here we are, a month behind schedule.
living on Goat Hill rd has become a nightmare normally a very quiet residential street has become a speedway, speed limit is 30mph most people are doing at least 45 mph. This street now has dump trucks, box trucks and tractor trailers. Driver have no consideration for the families living on this street. I can bet if we drove thru their neighborhoods doing any where from 15-30 mph over their speed limit they would be raising a stink. Goat Hill should never been allowed to a thru way for this amount of traffic.
I don’t live in a neighborhood and I see people driving poorly every day (is; distracted driving) listening to dump trucks, tractor trailers, loud music. About 1 person a month crashes on my property due to operator negligence.
What you are dealing with are called 1st world problems.
Your complaint is non issue as its temporary inconvenience.
Omg, people are speeding and making a lot of noise on your precious little road? That’s some real world stuff there.
They should make the road only for people who live there right? NIMBY!!!
Just a little consideration for the home owners on that street and for a safety reason maybe abide by the speed limit before a serious accident occurs.
What is taking so long to open route 7 up again? Contractors eating up the state $$ by taking longer..
I ?isited vario?us blogs except the ?udio feature for audi? songs present att
this wrbsite is a?tuall?y marvelo?s.
WHY IS THAT BRIDGE TAKING SO LONG??!! WE’RE NOW INTO OCTOBER AND THAT ROAD WAS CLOSED IN EARLY JUNE AND STILL NOT FINISHED!! WE’RE NOT REPLACING THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE FOR CHRISSAKES!! A CONTRACTOR IS MAKING A LOT OF $$$$ OFF THAT JOB AND THE COUNTY IS NOT DOING THEIR JOB MAKING THEM FINISH ON TIME!!
Route 7 is considered a STATE road not a COUNTY road. Harford county is not responsible you need to call the State Highway Administration and find out why it is taking so long.