Year-Long Lane Closures During US 40, MD 715 Expansion

Dave Phillips, the Maryland State Highway Admnistration design project manager for road improvements on US 40 and MD 715, gave a presentation at an Aberdeen  City Council meeting on Monday on the updates of the $18 million project.

Phillips expects the project to improve interchange traffic capacity, traffic flow and safety in the interchange. It will also improve access to APG-Maryland Gate and eliminate U-turns for large trucks traveling to industrial parks and distribution centers.

For many commuters the improvements can't come soon enough as current average daily traffic is 36,600 and is forecasted to rise to 75,300 by 2030 because of BRAC, according to the Maryland State Highway Administration.

Starting in early spring 2012 there will be daily lane closures for construction that is expected to last one year.

• US 40 eastbound to Aberdeen and US 40 westbound to Edgewood: Lane closures may take place Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. the next day.
• MD 715 northbound (leaving APG): Lane closures may take place Sunday through Thursday between 7 p.m. and 2 p.m. the next day
• MD 715 southbound (entering APG): Lane closures make take place Sunday through Thursday between 9 a.m. and 5 a.m. the next day.

Starting in early spring 2012 the ramp from eastbound US 40 to southbound MD 715 will be closed and detoured for one year. The APG gate schedule will be different during this time.

• The Maryland Gate on MD 715 will be open to deliveries and visitors at all times.
• The Aberdeen Gate on MD 132 will be open for inbound traffic from 5:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and open for outbound traffic from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on duty days.
• The Harford Gate on MD 22 will be open 5 a.m to 7 p.m. on duty days.

American Infrastructure and MJT Engineering are tasked with completing the construction on US 40 and MD 715. The project is expected to be finished by spring 2013.

Phase 1 of the project will include:

• Widening MD 715 by one lane in each direction from the bridge over Amtrak to the APG gate
• Relocating the APG visitors' center entrance
• Constructing new storm water management facilities
• Upgrading highway signing, pavement marking and lighting
• Landscaping

Phase 2 of the project will include:

• Widening the MD 715 bridge over US 40 to provide two lanes in each direction
• Widening the roadway to provide four lanes in each direction from the US 40 interchange to Old Philadelphia Road
• Re-marking lanes on the MD 715 bridge over Amtrak to create three lanes in each direction
• Widening of the roadway to provide three lanes in each direction from Old Philadelphia Road and the bridge over Amtrak to north of the APG gate
• Relocating and widening the ramp from eastbound US 40 to southbound MD 715 to provide three lanes on the ramp and a new spur ramp to northbound MD 715
• Improving the MD 715/Old Philadelphia Road intersection and upgrading the traffic signal
• Providing new traffic signals at the following locations:

1. Southbound MD 715 to eastbound US 40
2. Spur ramp from eastbound US 40 to northbound MD 715
3. MD 715 intersection at Cirelli Court