According to Mark Dougherty, the District 3 Area Engineer, while construction is going on motorists should expect single lane closures Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. There will be double lane closures occurring Sunday through Thursday between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Along with lane closures, ramps are also expected to be closed. The ramps connecting Middlebrook Road to I-270 and the ramp connecting I-270 to MD-124 will be closed from Sunday to Thursday between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Other related projects include improving highway drainage, upgrading sidewalks on Route 124 and Middlebrook Road at the I-270 interchange and replacing concrete curbs and gutters.

To help cope with the temporary closures, the MSHA and District 3 Community Liaison Kimberly Frum, have advised detours to help with traffic conditions. Recommended detours include MD-118/Germantown Road and MD-355/ Frederick Road. Although signs will be provided for detours, it is recommended to know these detours ahead of time to help decrease driver frustration and the chance of accidents.

With increasing unemployment, construction has become a common way to generate employment opportunities. The project is funded by President Barack Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which aims to stimulate the economy by preserving jobs with projects like the one in Maryland. With this construction project, the Inter-County Connector and construction on MD-124, many new jobs will be open for a largely unemployed population.