State to Replace Hyattstown Bridge on MD-355

The Maryland State Highway Administration will begin work to replace the bridge over Little Bennett Creek on Frederick Road/MD-355 in Hyattstown.

On Friday, Dec. 7, the Hogan administration announced the start of construction to replace the MD-355 (Frederick Road) Bridge over Little Bennett Creek in Montgomery County. The bridge is about 500-feet south of the intersection with Old Hundred Road/MD-109. The cost of the project is $8.3 million and is part of Governor Larry Hogan’s promise to address the 69 structurally deficient bridges that were identified in 2015.

“Our administration continues to make long-overdue upgrades to our bridges to ensure we provide a safe, reliable and efficient transportation network,” said Governor Hogan. “This bridge replacement will improve travel for all who live in and drive through Montgomery County.”

Built in 1925, the 93-year-old bridge is safe for travel, but has outlived its reliable service life. The bridge itself is not very large, less than 100-feet long, but it traverses Little Bennett Creek. The new structure will be three feet higher with wider clearance underneath of the bridge. Other work on the project includes constructing a temporary road to carry traffic throughout construction and restoring 900 feet of Little Bennett Creek to prevent stream bank erosion.

The temporary bridge will reduce construction-related delays and expedite the overall project. In the initial phase of the project, while the temporary bridge is being constructed, motorists can expect off-peak single lane closures guided by a flagging operation until the temporary roadway is constructed. MDOT SHA’s contractor for the work is Concrete General, Inc. of Gaithersburg. Nearly 8,200 vehicles use this section of MD 355 daily.

The project is expected to be completed in the fall of 2020

Caption: MD 355 Bridge over Little Bennett Creek in Hyattstown.

Photo courtesy MDOT SHA.