Rt. 355 In The Urbana Area Closed

The State Highway Administration says it will be closed through the weekend.

Urbana, Md (KM) The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration says Route 355 (Urbana Pike) in the Urbana area will remain closed through the weekend. The highway at Bennett Creek was damaged on Thursday by flooding between Big Woods Road/Dr Perry Road and and the Urbana High School at 3471 Campus Drive in Ijamsville.

The flooding also damaged the guardrail and embankment.

SHA says it expects to complete these repairs by Monday, September 27th, when Route 355 will reopen.

The damage occurred on a temporary roadway which opened last year as a part of a project to replace a deficient bridge over Bennett Creek.

Traffic will be detoured while repairs are underway. Vehicles coming northbound on Route 355 will be directed to use southbound Route 109 (Old Hundred Road) to northbound I-270, and then take eastbound Route 80 to get to Route 355. Motorists traveling southbound on Route 355 will be detoured to westbound Route 80 (Fingerboard Road) to southbound I-270, and then take northbound Route 109 to get to Route 355.

SHA says electronic signs, cones and barrels will be used to alert motorists about the emergency road closure and the detour.

By Kevin McManus