BALTIMORE (Oct. 27, 2016)—Overnights next week, the Maryland Department of Transportation's State Highway Administration (SHA) will temporarily close the MD 231 (Prince Frederick Road/Hallowing Point Road) "Benedict Bridge" over the Patuxent River for construction work. Crews will intermittently close the bridge to vehicles, stopping traffic on both the Calvert and Charles County sides for 30-minute periods between 12 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights, November 1–3.
The closures are necessary for SHA's contractor to drive piles under the swing span, which requires the structure to be in the open position. All work is weather permitting. SHA advises travelers to plan ahead to avoid crossing overnight or to allow extra time for the intermittent closures.
The piles are part of the new fender system that will protect the bridge supports from marine traffic collisions. Construction of the new steel and timber fender system began late April. The new system, which includes heavy wooden timbers, is prepared off-site and installed from barges. SHA is adding navigational lights under the bridge to enhance visibility for marine traffic's safe passage. SHA awarded the $3.5 million project to Corman Marine Construction, Inc. of Annapolis Junction, Md.