State Highway Administration work crews began work this week aimed at reducing traffic congestion and the number of accidents on Route 175 at Thunder Hill Road in Columbia.

The current westbound right lane on Route 175 is shared by motorists turning onto Thunder Hill and motorists going through the intersection to exit onto northbound U.S.29. The $63,000 project will add an extra right lane exclusively forright turns onto Thunder Hill Road.

The contractor -- Ratrie, Robbins & Schweizer Inc. of Baltimore -- will have to close lanes intermittently between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. The project is expected to be finished in late spring.