SHA will reconstruct Alternate 40.
Middletown, Md (KM) A $14-million reconstruction of Alternate 40–or Main Street–in Middletown will begin next week. The Maryland State Highway Administration will reconstruct two miles of the road between Ivy Hill Drive and Middletown Parkway.
Spokesman Charlie Gischlar says it will include construction sidewalks and sidewalk ramps which conform to the Americans with Disabilities Act. “Federal ADA standards are five feet across, concrete, consistent material: and ramps can’t exceed a two-degree incline for people in a wheelchair. So that’s all going to be put in there,” he says.
In addition, Alternate 40 will contains some amenities. “Installing crosswalks, along with the pedestrian countdown signals and the crossing signals at the intersections of US 40 Alternate between Ivy Hill Drive and Middletown Parkway,” says Gischlar.
SHA says there will also be some drainage improvements. “There’s going to be new drainage inlets and pipes which will help get water off of US 40 Alternate as well the stormwater management ponds, which will require now to filter the water out before it’s released back into the atmosphere,” says Gischlar. “There’s going to be some highway lighting around the area put in.”
And finally, crews will pave and strip Alternate 40.
Gischlar says motorists are urged to slow down when coming upon this construction area, and stay alert. “It’s very tight in these old towns. During construction, it’s going to make it even tighter, ” he says., “So obviously give yourself a little extra drive time in the next couple years while we’re going this project.”
SHA says this project is expected to be completed by the summer of 2019.
The agency says more than 11,000 motorists travel that area of Alternate 40 each day.
The contract for this project was awarded to Milan Construction, Inc. of Washington DC.
By Kevin McManus