Community Corner

I-70 Bridge Needed 'Urgent Repair Work,' State Highway Administration Says

'SHA is very conservative concerning bridges...' —State Highway Administration Administrator Melinda B. Peters

The Interstate 70 bridge over the Patapsco River has reopened after being closed since Friday afternoon, state transportation officials said.

Urgent repair work was necessary due to signs that a beam needed to be reinforced, according to the State Highway Administration (SHA).

As a permanent fix, crews bolted and welded steel plates to the bridge beam, according to a statement from the SHA.

Find out what's happening in Ellicott Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The bridge and ramps to westbound I-70 from Interstate 695 were closed Friday afternoon for the repairs. They reopened at 3:55 p.m. on Sunday, the SHA said in a prepared statement.

"SHA is very conservative concerning bridges, so any indication of wear and tear that needs attention is prioritized for repair," SHA Administrator Melinda B. Peters said. "Given the amount of traffic on this interstate bridge, we deemed it best to address the issue immediately. We appreciate motorists' patience during the closure."

Find out what's happening in Ellicott Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here