Daily News Briefs, October 12, 2022

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Federal Judge Refuses To Block Maryland's Demolition Of Superseded Toll Span

Maryland Matters reports, a federal judge yesterday refused to issue a temporary restraining order that would have blocked Maryland DOT from starting demolition of the obsolete Nice/Middleton (route 301) toll bridge structure this week. Her ruling came at the end of a three-hour hearing that included testimony on the old span’s condition and the possibility it could affect the new structure that replaces it starting today. A coalition of cycling groups sued the state in an effort to preserve the old bridge for pedestrian and cyclist use. The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) announced the schedule of the new bridge’s opening and the start of demolition activities “just hours” before the hearing. An MDTA official denied that the the authority “rushed completion of the replacement span to blunt the cycling groups’ lawsuit.”

The Washington Post provides in-depth coverage of the replacement bridge’s opening, yesterday’s court hearing and the controversy Maryland sparked when it removed accommodations for walkers and bikers from the original design of the new bridge.

Alternative and Active Transportation Environmental Protection Policies Procedures And Initiatives Issues of Law Maryland Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) US Department of Transportation (USDOT)

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Illinois Tollway Completes Huge Effort To Replace Mile Long Bridge

Daily Herald  reports on the climax of the Illinois Tollway’s Mile Long Bridge replacement project, a $500 million part of the ongoing Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) construction program. This week, traffic is transitioning onto the completed southbound structure, the twin of the new northbound span that opened in 2020. According to the newspaper, “The project was an engineering Rubik’s Cube — spanning the Canadian National and BNSF railways, a UPS distribution center, 75th Street, the Des Plaines River, the Illinois and Michigan Canal, and the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. Adding to the complexities are underground gas lines and a jet fuel line to O’Hare International Airport.” Acting Chief Engineer Manar Nashif says replacing the existing spans dating from the 1950s was made more complex because traffic — 150,000 vehicles per day — had to be maintained throughout construction. The project will reach completion next year when the tollway demolishes the obsolete south span.

ABC News Chicago also covers this story.

Central Tri-State Tollway (I-294) (Illinois) Chicago Metro Area Illinois Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (IL Tollway)

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DRJTBC Reschedules I-295 Roadway Maintenance Operation For Friday

The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission (DRJTBC) announced that a weather-delayed “high-intensity construction cycle” will start this Friday morning (October 14) and end sometime the following night on the northbound approach to the busy Scudder Falls (I-295) Toll Bridge. Work crews will correct a pavement bump by wet-grinding the surface and preparing it for the eventual application of a level polyester-polymer concrete (PPC) wearing layer. Since the operation will require closure of two of the three interstate lanes heading into Pennsylvania, DRJTBC is recommending that commuters change their work schedules or choose an alternate route. Weather conditions forced the commission to postpone the operation last week.

Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission (DRJTBC) Highway and Bridge Maintenance New Jersey Pennsylvania

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These are just some of the toll industry developments TRN is following.

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