Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 63F. Winds light and variable..
Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 63F. Winds light and variable.
The completed bridge is pictured.
The bridge is pictured shortly after traffic was redirected to cross it.
The completed bridge is pictured.
The bridge is pictured shortly after traffic was redirected to cross it.
CRELLIN, Md. — The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) has officially completed the replacement of the MD 39 (Hutton Road) bridge over the Youghiogheny River in the town of Crellin.
The $10 million project replaced a structure built in 1923, and was part of Gov. Larry Hogan’s $1.97 billion investment in Maryland’s highways and bridges announced in 2015.
The bridge project was accomplished in two construction stages.
According to Shanteé Felix, assistant media relations manager for MDOT SHA, Stage 1 was estimated to cost $1.1 million and was completed in 2019. It included preparatory work such as sewer line relocation, drainage structure construction and stormwater management facility construction.
Stage 2, estimated at $8.9 million in work, included bridge replacement and road realignment.
This stage began in 2020 and includes a new 114-foot single-span bridge across the river, 1,300 feet of new roadway and a new guardrail traffic barrier.
While the new bridge has been open to traffic since late last year, crews have worked in recent months on elements including paving, lane striping and erosion control measures. With completion of those items, construction is officially complete.
The project included removal of the original 1923 bridge; construction of the new bridge; installation of a stormwater management pond; realignment of roadway approaches to the bridge; resurfacing MD 39 from West Ashby Road to Kendall Drive; and construction of a parking area near westbound MD 39 that allows anglers and boaters access to the Youghiogheny River.
MDOT SHA contractor Charles J. Merlo, of Mineral Point, Pa., performed the work.
Shelley Miller, MDOT’s community liaison for District 6, reported that traffic was moved to the new bridge on June 15, 2021 and the old bridge’s removal was completed July 15, 2021.
“The bridge was removed using a Hitachi 330 excavator with a demolition hammer on it,” she said. “A concrete block river diversion was set up from the middle of the bridge to the west end. The bridge was then demolished and removed.”
The diversion was then moved to the other side of the river and the process repeated for the eastern side of the bridge. Once it was removed, the debris was taken away.
Work over the winter included building a stormwater management pond and the addition of fencing to the wingwalls of the bridge.
“This project allowed for the width of Md. 39 to be improved,” said David Bittner, project engineer. “The design of the new bridge doesn’t use a center pier, improving the river’s flow and reducing the likelihood of debris damming up and causing flooding.”
Originally constructed in 1928, the old bridge was deemed safe for the traveling public, but was nearing the end of its useful service life.
Staff writer Brenda Ruggiero can be reached at 301-501-8393 or by email at bruggiero@therepublicannews.com.
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