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Baltimore Street Bridge will be reduced to one-way traffic for three weeks

July 12th, 2019 by WCBC Radio

The City of Cumberland would like to notify the public on behalf of Rhinehart Railroad Construction, a contractor for the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, that Baltimore Street will be reduced to one-way traffic going westbound between Mechanic Street and Greene Street. The road will be reduced to one-way traffic beginning at 6am Monday, July 29, 2019, until 6pm Friday, August 16, 2019, in order for the railroad crossing to be replaced. The road shall be reduced to one-way traffic until construction is completed and parking on the Baltimore Street Bridge will be prohibited during this time.

Eastbound traffic from the West Side of the City will be detoured towards North Smallwood Street and Cumberland Street in order to utilize the Market Street Bridge to access the downtown area. The public is urged to utilize Exit 43C on I-68 to avoid using the detour during construction.

During this time, Belt Paving will be working on a night shift schedule from 7pm-5am to continue work on the Mechanic Street Access Project, in order to alleviate traffic congestion in the area.

Also, during this time, Carl Belt Inc. will be performing temporary repairs to the west abutment of the Baltimore Street Bridge. Repair efforts will not affect one-way traffic and will be completed prior to the completion of the railroad crossing construction. These temporary repairs will occur at this time to avoid an additional partial bridge closure in the future.

Upon completion of the railroad crossing construction, Belt Paving plans to return to working day light hours on the Mechanic Street Project.

During this time, the public is asked to travel the area carefully and obey all signage. Pedestrians utilizing the Baltimore Street Bridge sidewalks should also travel with care as they pass the construction site.

If there are any questions related to the railroad crossing construction, they should be directed to John Garner, Western Maryland Scenic Railroad at 301-759-4400. 

Any questions related to the Mechanic Street project or the Baltimore Street Bridge project should be directed to the City of Cumberland’s Engineering Department at 301-759-6600.

INITIAL REPORT:

As a result of contruction necessary to replace the railroad crossing- Baltimore Street will be reduced to one-way traffic between Mechanic Street and Greene Street for a three week period beginning later this month. Cumberland’s City Engineer Bobby Smith, during a press briefing, announced that construction will begin on July 29th and continue through August 16.  The road will be reduced to one-way traffic and parking on the Baltimore Street Bridge will be prohibited..

Eastbound traffic from the West Side of the City will be detoured towards North Smallwood Street and Cumberland Street in order to utilize the Market Street Bridge to access that downtown area. The public is urged to use Exit 43C on I-68 to avoid using the detour during contruction. While some repairs will be made to the abutment of the Baltimore Street Bridge during the railroad crossing construction- ultimately a major renovation will be needed …                     

Pedestrians will continue to have access to the bridge during construction but are urged to travel with caution as they pass the construction site. During the work on the railroad crossing, Carl Belt Paving has agreed to work on a night shift schedule on the Mechanic Street Access Project in order to alleviate traffic congestion in that area

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