Summit Bridge closes this weekend for repairs

Summit Bridge, which carries Route 896 / 301 traffic over the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal, is scheduled to close for construction this weekend starting tonight at 10:00 p.m. 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says the closure is necessary in order to replace a gusset plate, a thick plate of steel connecting bridge beams and girders or columns to trusses.  A $10-million construction project on Summit Bridge began in April and is expected to be completed in December 2012.  After this weekend’s closure, there will continue to be periodic lane closures in preparation for painting of the bridge.  During the weekend closure (10:00 p.m. Friday – 5:00 a.m. Monday), northbound Route 301 traffic will be detoured to Boyds Corner Road (Route 896), to Route 13 north, to Route 1 north, to Route 72 north to Route 40 west, back to Route 301/896.  Southbound traffic will be detoured to Route 40 east, to Route 72 south to Route 13 south via exit 148 to Boyds Corner Road back to Route 301.  CLICK HERE for a look at traffic conditions in the area of Summit Bridge.