Rehabilitation of Bridge No. H-0024

The purpose of this project is to rehabilitate the bridge on Stafford Road crossing Deer Creek in Susquehanna State Park. The bridge rehabilitation will consist of the replacement of the bridge deck and superstructure and rehabilitation of the existing substructure elements. Rehabilitation is necessary to preserve County Infrastructure as well as address public safety concerns due to the current condition of the bridge.

The existing bridge, built in 1951± is a 3-span, continuous, 225’-6”± long steel beam bridge with a reinforced concrete bridge deck. The existing superstructure consists of a 25’-2” (out to out) concrete deck supported by four continuous steel beams. The superstructure has a clear roadway width of 20’-2” with curb and railing. The span lengths are 66’, 88’ and 66’, respectively. The substructure consists of reinforced concrete cantilever abutments with wingwalls and solid shaft piers. The bridge is currently posted for 30,000 lbs. single unit vehicle (SUV) and 55,000 lbs. combination unit vehicle (CUV).

The proposed bridge will be a 3-span, continuous 226’-7” (out to out bridge deck) long steel beam bridge with a reinforced concrete bridge deck. The proposed superstructure consists of a 25’-6” (out to out) concrete deck supported by four continuous steel beams. The superstructure will have a 23’-6” clear roadway width including two- 9’ travel lanes (one lane/direction), a 1’-0” shoulder on the south side of the deck and a 4’-6” shoulder on the north side of the deck. The superstructure will have a concrete parapet with steel tubular railing for the full length of the bridge. The span lengths will remain approximately the same, being 66’, 88’ and 66’ respectively. The existing substructure elements are to remain in-place and will be rehabilitated to support the new bridge deck and superstructure. The proposed bridge will not be posted with load restrictions once open to the public.

Additional scope associated with this project includes, but is not limited to maintenance of traffic, erosion and sediment control, stream diversion, reconstruction of approximately 290’-0” of approach roadway and installation of approach traffic barriers.

Construction is anticipated to span a duration of ten months in which Stafford Road will be closed for a maximum of nine months. Construction is tentatively scheduled to start August 2022 in which the bridge and portions of Stafford Road will be closed the first Tuesday after Labor Day 2022 and will be reopened by Monday, May 22, 2023.

Please refer to the  Susquehanna State Park website  to obtain the status of the Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway Trail which is located near the Stafford Flint Furnace adjacent to Stafford Road.

Susquehanna State Park will remain open to the public during construction with a detour plan in place.

Visitors traveling from the north (U.S. 1, MD 623), shall travel south on MD 161, turn left onto Rock Run Road, and left onto Stafford Road where they will find the park entrance on the left.

Visitors traveling from the south (MD 155, MD 22, I-95), shall travel north on MD 161, turn right onto Rock Run Road and left onto Stafford Road where they will find the park entrance on the left.

April 28, 2022: The project bids have been received from multiple local contractors, with The Six M. Company, Inc. of Delta, PA being the lowest responsible bidder.

May 6, 2022: The Six M. Company, Inc. has been issued concurrence of award from both Harford County, Maryland and the Maryland State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA).

August 1, 2022: Notice to Proceed, Contractor begins on-site work prior to upcoming September 6, 2022 Road Closure Date.

August 8, 2022: The contractor has installed the detour for the upcoming bridge/road closure date of September 6, 2022.

Note that in the upcoming weeks, the contractor will be clearing the site, installing the demolition shields on the bridge and adjacent erosion and sediment controls.  For this work, the contractor will be utilizing a single lane closure with on-site flagman.  If entering the site to visit the park prior to the noted closure date of September 6, 2022, please be patient and mindful of the contractor’s maintenance of traffic and staff on-site.

August 22, 2022: The Contractor has begun clearing the site and installing the debris shielding for the upcoming superstructure demolition.

All required detour signage has been installed at the bridge and the immediate adjacent roadways for the upcoming bridge/road closure. Harford County has issued a formal road closure notification which notes that the road will be closed to all through traffic on or about Tuesday, September 2022 for the bridge rehabilitation for approximately nine (9) months.  Please follow the detour signs or make other arrangements if you travel these roadways.   

September 22, 2022: The contractor has continued work on-site installing/removing suspended debris shielding, demolition of existing concrete bridge deck (95% complete to date) and installation of Stage 1 Stream Diversion so work may begin on Abutment A and Pier 1 once the existing steel beams have been removed.

Note that in addition to the road closure notification noted within the August 22, 2022 project update, the Contractor will be closing Craig’s Corner Road at Stafford Road on or about Monday October 3, 2022 for approximately two (2) weeks.  During this time both Stafford Road at/adjacent to the bridge and Craig’s Corner Road will be closed to all through traffic.  Please follow the detour signs or make other arrangements if you travel these roadways.

October 3, 2022: The contractor has completed demolition of the existing bridge deck, removal of Span 1 Steel beams (Spans 2 and 3 remain to date) and installation/dewatering of Stage 1 Stream Diversion.  The contractor has also begun preparing the work-area within the diversion for work on Abutment A and Pier 1, with crews mobilizing to begin concrete repairs on Pier 1.

October 31, 2022: The contractor has completed removal of the existing steel beams and has completed Pier 1 repairs within Stage 1 Stream Diversion.  Work also continues on the repairs to Abutment A and installation of Pier 2 pedestals. The contractor intends to continue and complete repairs on Abutment A once the stream diversion has been switched to Stage 2, which will allow crews to begin work on Pier 2 and Abutment B.

Note that in addition to the road closure notification noted within the August 22, 2022 project update, since the Contractor will be switching the stream diversion and mobilizing to the East Approach, the Contractor will be required to close Craig’s Corner Road at Stafford Road on or about Monday, November 7 ^th , 2022 for approximately one (1) month.  During this time both Stafford Road at/adjacent to the bridge and Craig’s Corner Road will be closed to all through traffic. Please follow the detour signs or make other arrangements if you travel these roadways.

November 18, 2022: The contractor has switched the stream diversion to Stage 2, which contains Pier 2 and Abutment B.  Work also continues on excavating Pier 2 footing for concrete repairs and scaffolding has been set for Abutment B repairs.  Rehabilitation to Abutment A also continues.

Please refer to the note above under October 31, 2022 project update regarding road closure notifications.

December 12, 2022: The contractor continues work on Pier 2 and Abutment B rehabilitation.  Work also continues on Abutment A to modify the existing abutment to accommodate the new superstructure.

Note that in addition to the above project updates dated October 31 and November 18, 2022; both Stafford Road at/adjacent to the bridge and Craig’s Corner Road will be closed to all through traffic for approximately two (2) additional months.  Please follow the detour signs or make other arrangements if you travel these roadways.

January 13, 2023: The contractor has or is in the process of completing rehabilitation work to Abutment A, Abutment B and Pier 2 with anticipation of erecting the steel beam superstructure and removal of the Stage 2 Stream Diversion in the coming weeks.

Note that in addition to the above project updates dated October 31, November 18, and December 12, 2022; both Stafford Road at/adjacent to the bridge and Craig’s Corner Road will be closed to all through traffic for approximately two (2) additional months.  Please follow the detour signs or make other arrangements if you travel these roadways.

January 27, 2023: The contractor has completed rehabilitation work to the substructure elements (except completion of the epoxy coating which will take place Spring 2023), has erected the steel beam superstructure and is in the process of removing Stage 2 Stream Diversion.  In the coming weeks, the contractor anticipates full removal of Stage 2 Stream Diversion and concentrating their efforts on the bridge deck.  

Note that Stafford Road at/adjacent to the bridge and Craig’s Corner Road will tentatively reopen to all through traffic, effective March 1, 2023. Additional Information to follow in the coming weeks.

March 9, 2023: The contractor has been concentrating their efforts over the past month actively working on the bridge deck with placement of overhang brackets, stay-in-place deck forms, shear studs and now the deck/parapet reinforcement.  In the coming weeks, the contractor will continue to work on and complete installation of the deck/parapet reinforcement and begin scheduling their deck pours.

 Note the following:

1. In addition to the above project updates, Stafford Road at/adjacent to the bridge at Craig’s Corner Road will be intermittently closed to all through traffic over the next couple months so the Contractor can complete work on-schedule.
2. With the weather changing and becoming more favorable in the coming months the Department would like to stress that the bridge and adjacent work areas are still considered to be a work-zone for this project.  Access to/from the bridge site to cross Deer Creek is prohibited to ALL public pedestrian/bicycle traffic.  The Contractor has posted ‘No Trespassing Signs and has barricades in-place to keep the public out of the work zone.  The Department requests that the public hold-off from crossing the bridge while the deck is being constructed and wait until the bridge has been opened the bridge to the public to prevent personal injury.

April 18, 2023- The contractor has been concentrating their efforts over the past month working on the concrete deck pours and forming the bridge parapet walls.  In the coming weeks, the contractor will continue to form and pour the bridge parapet walls, perform approach roadway upgrades, install traffic barrier, and work towards reopening the bridge on or prior to the May 22, 2023 reopening date. Once the bridge has been reopened to the public, outstanding work will be performed via single lane closures, as necessary, to complete this project.  Additional project updates will follow in the coming weeks.  Refer to the March 9, 2023 project update for additional notes #1 and #2 regarding road closures and site access.

May 16, 2023:  The contractor has continued to form/pour the bridge parapets, install bridge railing and stain the architectural treatment in addition to performing associated approach roadway improvements with roadway resurfacing and installation of approach traffic barrier with anticipation of reopening the bridge to the public in the coming days.  Over the next several weeks, the contractor will be actively working onsite, possibly with intermittent single lane closures to perform final task items before demobilizing from the site.  Once the road and bridge is officially reopened, Harford County will issue a formal road reopening notification. Additional project updates to follow in the coming weeks.

May 25, 2023: The contractor has substantially completed construction on-site and the bridge has officially been reopened to the public for use.  The contractor has some outstanding work remaining and will be finishing up over the next several weeks to fully complete this project.  Note that while the contractor fully completes work on-site, there is a possibility that intermittent single lane closures will utilized to safely complete all work.

August 1, 2022: Project Start Date

September 6, 2022: Start Date for Road Closure

May 22, 2023: End Date for Road Closure

June 23, 2023: Anticipated Project Completion Date

NOTE: Refer to Project Updates Section above for actual progress updates as work progresses on-site.

April 8, 2022: Existing Bridge and Site Photos

August 22, 2022: Bridge Closure Notification Sign and Debris Shielding

September 22, 2022: Bridge Demolition and Stage 1 Stream Diversion

October 3, 2022: Bridge Demolition and Pier 1 Repairs

October 31, 2022: Stage 1 Diversion, Abutment A/Pier 1/Pier 2 Repairs

November 18, 2022: Stage 2 Diversion, Abutment A, Abutment B, Pier 2 Repairs

December 12, 2022: Work on Pier 2 and Abutment B Rehabilitation

January 13, 2023: Rehabilitation work to Abutment A, Abutment B, and Pier 2

January 27, 2023: Project Update

March 9, 2023: Project Update

April 18, 2023 Update

May 16, 2023

May 25, 2023

• Planning - Complete
• Design - Complete
  • Consultant: Whitney Bailey Cox & Magnani, LLC
• Construction - Complete
  • Contractor: The Six M. Company, Inc. of Delta, PA

For additional project information, please contact: