The Downes Road bridge over Interstate 83 in Parkton will be closed to all traffic beginning at 8 a.m. on June 20 so work can begin to replace the concrete bridge deck.
The State Highway Administration hired Sheetz Construction of Linthicum for the $1.3 million project.
The bridge was built in 1958 and is structurally safe, but has deteriorated. Additional work includes cleaning and painting steel beams, minor repairs to concrete abutments, and replacing concrete wing walls.
Rather than allowing traffic to cross the bridge using one lane during construction, it was decided to close it entirely so the project could be completed faster, said Fran Ward, SHA spokeswoman. She said the work will extend the life of the bridge 30-50 years.
The work is scheduled to be completed by Oct. 1. A monetary reward is being offered the contractor for each day ahead of schedule the project is done. A penalty will be imposed for each day it goes past the Oct. 1 deadline.
Motorists should use Old York Road and Sampson Road to access York Road.
Pat van den Beemt