Travel Lanes To Shift Next Week On Md. Rt. 85

It’s part of the RT. 8  I-270 interchange project.

Frederick, Md. (KM) – The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration says some lane shifting will take place next week along Maryland Route 85 (Buckeystown Pike) in Frederick County. Spokeswoman Shantee Felix says the lanes will shift along Route 85 between Spectrum Drive and Pegasus Court. “This will take place Wednesday evening at around 8:00 PM into Thursday morning. And also Thursday evening into Friday morning.  So motorists should look out for that,” she says.

Felix says shifting these lanes allows crews to work in the median safely. She also notes that the work is scheduled for the overnight hours. “Traffic will be lighter, but we still want motorists, as always, to look out for their surroundings and slow down in the work zones,” says Felix.

This work also involves closures of the  ramps to and from Route 85 to I-270. SHA says northbound Route 85 to northbound I-270; northbound I-270 to northbound and southbound Route 85; southbound I-270 to northbound Route 85; and northbound Route 85 to southbound I-270 will be closed while the work is underway.

All of this work is part of the $91-million Route 85 and I-270 Interchange Project which has been going on for quite a few years. ” We appreciate the public’s patience with our project. We anticipate it being completed in spring, 2023,” says Felix. “We’re excited about the progress that it’s  taking place.”

Crews will open a new southbound Route 85 to northbound I-270 on July 13th, SHA says.

The contractor for this project, Joseph B. Fay Company, Inc., in Glen Burnie,   will have electronic signs, road signs, cones and barrels to alert motorists  about the work zone  to guide them through any detours. Law enforcement officers will be on hand to assist with lane and ramp closures, according to the SHA.

“We’ always have our cones and barrels and signage up to notify motorists of the work that’s taking place,” Felix says. “We always tell motorists when they see those signals in advance, they should slow down and pay attention to their surroundings and be prepared for changes that will be taking place up ahead in the roadway.”

To keep up to date on this project and others around Maryland, go at MD511.maryland.gov.

By Kevin McManus