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IN THIS ISSUE
Front page- Major construction to reroute APG motorists
- APG celebrates first residents of new neighborhood event
- Improved fitness center reopens with new classes, equipment
- Ceremony hails troops after yearlong deployment
- CECOM commander retires after 34 years of Army service
- AER expands categories
- APG eagle count reaches 196
- USAPHC Ergonomics Program focuses on worker safety, comfort
- Healthy Living
- Construction starts soon
- Post Shorts
- Community Notes
- Family and MWR
- KUSAHC pharmacy gets makeover
- Front page stories continued
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 9, 2012
TOP STORY
Crews will relocate and widen 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. -- Courtesy photo
Major construction to reroute APG motorists
The second phase of an extensive construction project outside of APG North's Maryland Gate on MD 715 at Route 40 may require installation employees, residents and visitors to change their usual commutes.
In an attempt to better manage the post-BRAC traffic, the project will widen and improve several roads and relocate a ramp directly off post. The $18 million project is set to begin in the spring and is expected to cause large-scale detours and delays. Community members are encouraged to begin planning alternate drive routes, consider commuting options and look into flexible work schedules. Dave Phillips, design/build project manager for the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA), said SHA looked at other plans and alternative construction phases. The chosen plan offered the best solution, but he noted that drivers will have to plan for detours and delays. "We anticipate there will be impacts due to the detours, and we encourage people to give themselves enough time to get to work, and be safe on the roads," he said, adding that drivers will see a major improvement when the project is complete.
The plan
Plans call for widening the MD 715 bridge over US 40 to two lanes in each direction, and widening the road to provide four lanes in each direction from the US 40 interchange to Old Philadelphia Road.
Crews will relocate and widen 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. Extensive earthwork is required to reconstruct and widen the ramp for additional lanes and will necessitate eastbound traffic being re-routed.
"It's a battle plan," Phillips said of the SHA's design. Project details are viewable on the SHA web site: http://www.roads.maryland.gov . To access the project page, click "Projects & Studies" then "SHA Projects Page," select "Harford County," then "US 40 Pulaski Highway, US 40 at MD715 Interchange."
Traffic to double
Currently, about 36,500 vehicles enter the installation each day. The SHA estimates that number will rise to 75,000 by 2030 due to anticipated growth of the installation. The plan calls for a traffic light to be installed on eastbound US 40, where vehicles headed for APG will make a left-hand turn for access to southbound MD 715 while the ramp is closed. During non-peak hours, traffic may be re-routed for road work and equipment movement. The target start date for the year-long detour is March 2012. Phillips acknowledged that the detour will slow traffic coming through one of the major arteries to the installation. "We're working hard, trying to alleviate the pains this will cause in the beginning," Phillips said. "We have more tools in the tool box if we need to use them."
APG Gates
Army officials have been apprised of the SHA's plans and are examining measures that may help alleviate the flow of traffic through APG gates, Phillips said. The MD 715 gate is the installation's only entry point for visitors and deliveries. The Harford Gate on MD 22 is open from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. on duty days only and does not allow entry for deliveries and visitors.
The Aberdeen Gate on MD 132 (West Bel Air Avenue to Aberdeen Boulevard) will accept inbound vehicles from 5:30 to 9 a.m. once ramp is closedand currently is open for outbound vehicles from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on duty days. This gate does not accept deliveries or visitors.
According to Phillips, lane closures may also be necessary during the workday and evenings to accommodate construction. Eastbound and westbound US 40 lane closures may take place Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. the next day. MD 715 northbound (outbound from APG) lane closures may take place Sunday to Thursday nights between 7 p.m. and 2 p.m. the next day. Southbound lanes (inbound to APG) lanes may be closed Sunday to Thursday between 9 a.m. and 5 a.m. the next day.
The contract for the project was awarded to American Infrastructure of Fallston, Md., and JMT Engineering of Sparks, Md.
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