Highway 198 bridge washed out in heavy rains. Photo courtesy of MDSHA.The Maryland State Highway Administration (MDSHA) said that part of the Route 198 bridge over the Little Patuxent River in Laurel, Md., was washed out by heavy rains on June 3, according to a report by KMAL FM.
“What happened was a lot of debris built up underneath the bridge,” MDSHA spokesperson Charlie Gischlar told the news agency. “It kind of damned up the flow of water, the intense flow of water, and it washed out the east-hand abutment of the bridge, meaning the approach roadway.”
Gischlar said MDSHA crews began removing debris on June 4 to get water flowing under the center span of the bridge to allow inspectors to examine the bridge’s structure. They found it to be structurally sound, so he said they will fill in the roadway, resurface it, and replace the guardrail that was damaged.
“We’re hoping that within a week, if not sooner, we can get that roadway reopened again,” Gischlar told the news agency.
UPDATE: The bridge was repaired and reopened to traffic on Saturday, June 9.
Highway 198 bridge was repaired and reopened to traffic on June 9. Photo courtesy of Maryland Department of Transportation.
