November 10th, 2021 by WCBC Radio

The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) will begin work today, November 10, to restore the original traffic pattern on the MD 51 (Industrial Boulevard) bridge in Cumberland as part of the structure’s ongoing rehabilitation project. The traffic pattern switch is expected to be completed by 6 a.m. Friday, November 12.

Work is continuing on MDOT SHA’s project to replace and rehabilitate the MD 51 bridge, located over MD 51/MD 61 (S. Wineow Street) and the CSX Transportation line in Allegany County. In April, crews switched northbound traffic to the southbound side of the bridge to safely accommodate work. This week’s switch will put traffic back to its original pattern.

Today, pedestrians will be able to use the sidewalks on the northbound side of the new MD 51 bridge by noon while crews continue line striping work.  

On Thursday at 2 p.m., crews will close the left lane on the northbound side of the bridge so they will have adequate space to work. By 3 p.m., MD 51 northbound traffic will be returned to the original travel lanes. At 6 p.m. Thursday, crews will use a flagging operation as they reset the barrier wall in the southbound lanes of the bridge. This work will continue overnight, and the original traffic pattern will be in place by 6 a.m. Friday. At that time, the left lane on the northbound side of the bridge will reopen.

MDOT SHA contractor Triton Construction Inc. of St. Albans, W.Va., will perform the work. The full bridge project is expected to be complete in summer 2022. Learn more about the project here.

MDOT SHA works hard to maintain safe traffic mobility in work zones for our crews as well as our customers. Drivers need to stay alert, focus on driving, look for reduced speed limits, as well as other driving pattern changes. Please drive like you work here and slowdown in construction zones. For a list of all major MDOT SHA projects, go to roads.maryland.gov. For a look at real-time traffic conditions, go to md511.maryland.gov.