- Home
- Residents
- Construction Projects
- Monocacy Boulevard Project
Monocacy Boulevard Project
The Project
The Monocacy Boulevard, Central Section Phase 2 project extends from the intersection of Monocacy Boulevard and Gas House Pike to the intersection of Monocacy Boulevard and Schifferstadt Boulevard. The project includes the construction of approximately 3,550 linear feet of a four-lane roadway inclusive of a new two-lane bridge and the rehabilitation of the existing two-lane bridge over the Monocacy River. The project also includes a new traffic signal at the intersection of Monocacy Boulevard and Gas House Pike. The road will have much the same character as Schifferstadt Boulevard, and the most recent portion of Monocacy Boulevard, with sidewalks, a shared use path, landscaped medians, etc.
What the Monocacy Boulevard Project Accomplishes
- Make Monocacy Boulevard straighter, safer, less likely to flood and able to serve four lanes of traffic - two in each direction
- Construction of a new bridge over the Monocacy River, and rehabilitation of the existing bridge, providing improved accommodations for pedestrians and bicyclists
- Installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of Monocacy Boulevard and Gas House Pike
- Ease access to/from North/East side of City
Video Overview
Watch the "City Issues" program about the project.
Closure Maps
Updates
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- August 2019
- May 2019
- February 2019
- November 2018
- October 2018
- July 2018
- January 2018
Update December 2019
Vehicles and bicycles will be permitted to use the improved Monocacy Boulevard while final sidewalk and landscaping work is completed in the coming weeks.
One lane Southbound will remain closed through project completion.
The area is still an active construction site.
More updates coming soon!
Update November 2019
Work in progress includes:
- Paving the 10’ shared use path,
- installation of street lights,
- installation of guard rail,
- installation of 5’ sidewalk
- installation of median storrmwater management facilities
Upcoming work for the month of November and early December includes:
- Milling existing pavement at both ends of the project in preparation for surface paving
- Traffic signal at Gas House Pike to be placed on in flash mode in preparation for opening
- Completion of repairs to the existing bridge, to include fencing and guard rails
- Installation of signs
- Installation of street trees
- Installation of lane striping along the roadway and pavement markings at each intersection
The roadway will be opened to traffic once permanent pavement markings are installed and lane striping is complete.
The City appreciates the public’s patience. This major transportation project will improve traffic flow from the southeast to northeast areas of the City, providing alternates to northbound U.S. 15.
Update October 2019
The project to realign and widen Monocacy Boulevard continues toward completion.
Construction of the new bridge is substantially complete, and repairs to the existing bridge have significantly progressed. The large new retaining wall adjacent to Carroll Creek is complete, with the adjacent roadway and shared use path to subgrade. Overhead utility line relocations and water and sewer installation is complete, with storm drainage installed and storwmwater management facility work in progress. The new signal at Gashouse Pike is installed and awaits activation. Street light installation has begun in the north end of the project. Curb and gutter installation and base paving of approximately two-thirds of the project is complete with the remaining curb, gutter and base paving scheduled to occur over the next month.
The roadway will be opened to traffic once the contractor has brought the work to substantial completion. The City appreciates the public’s patience. We have planned this major transportation project to improve traffic flow from the southeast to northeast areas of the City, providing alternates to northbound U.S. 15.
Update - August 2019
The project to realign and widen Monocacy Boulevard continues toward completion.
Construction of the new bridge is winding down, and repairs to the existing bridge have significantly progressed. The large new retaining wall adjacent to Carroll Creek is in place, allowing roadway fill work to continue. Overhead utility line relocations are complete, with remaining water, sewer and storm drain work in progress. The new signal at Gashouse Pike is installed and awaits activation. Fills to bring the remaining roadway to grade are being placed, with curb and gutter and paving to occur next.
The roadway will be opened to traffic once the contractor has brought the work to substantial completion. The City appreciates the public’s patience. We have planned this major transportation project to improve traffic flow from the southeast to northeast areas of the City, providing alternates to northbound U.S. 15.
Update - May 2019
The project to realign and widen Monocacy Boulevard has been delayed by exceptionally wet weather.
The reopening of Monocacy Boulevard between Gas House Pike and Schifferstadt Boulevard/ East Church Street is now estimated to occur in late summer of 2019.
The City appreciates the public’s patience and is aware of the inconvenience this has created since the road closed in fall of 2017. This major transportation project has been planned for a decade to improve traffic flow from the southeast to northeast areas of the City, providing alternates to northbound U.S. 15.
Update - February 2019
Scheduled Substantial Completion: Summer 2019 (Revised because of weather)
Update - November 2018
- Structure S1 New Monocacy River Bridge: Deck is complete. Contractor preparing to install sidewalk (10-foot wide shared-use sidewalk) and parapets.
- Structure S2 Existing Monocacy River Bridge: Contractor began rehabilitation of the old Monocacy River Bridge in early October. Rehabilitation includes spall repair on piers, abutments, and deck; painting existing structural steel; modifying the north sidewalk from 3-foot width to 5.5-foot width.
- Structure S3 Carroll Creek Retaining Wall: Nearing completion, final segment of wall will be complete after 36-inch sewer is installed along Monocacy Boulevard and across Carroll Creek.
- Park Branch Culverts: Contractor is working to complete removal of existing the installation of the 5- to 8-foot diameter culvert pipes that will convey the stormwater through Abraham Faw Run/Park Branch from the north side of Monocacy Boulevard to the south side toward the Monocacy River. Approximately three quarters of the culvert length is complete (approximately 175 of the 235 feet each are installed). The rain and flooding of the Monocacy River and Carroll Creek have made this a very challenging activity.
Update - October 2018
- State Highway Administration: In October, the State Highway Administration (SHA) completely closed the Hayward Road connection to US 15 and opened the new southbound US 15 on/off ramps. SHA is currently finishing the remaining work on US 15 main line (milling, paving, marking, etc.), which is expected to be completed in November, weather permitting.
- City Progress: The City of Frederick Department of Public Works also recently completed work at the intersection of Thomas Johnson (TJ) Drive and Hayward Road to convert the intersection from a three-way stop to an all-way stop controlled intersection. The only change that was implemented as part of this work at the intersection is an additional “stop” sign placed on the westbound Hayward Road approach to the intersection.
- Caution: Drivers are cautioned to pay attention to the new traffic patterns in the area, come to a complete stop at stop signs, and observe posted speed limits (25 miles per hour). Please note that detour signs are provided on northbound TJ Drive and eastbound Hayward Road at the intersection to direct northbound TJ Drive drivers to continue north on TJ Drive to access the new US 15 interchange/ramps.
July 2018: U.S. 15 / MD 26 Construction
The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) manages the U.S. 15 construction and timeline. Monday, July 23, the Maryland State Highway Administration will open the Monocacy Boulevard bridge over U.S. 15 and a new ramp, which are part of the U.S. 15 (Catoctin Mountain Highway) / Monocacy Boulevard interchange project. Information about that and other state highway projects is on the SHA projects page.
Update - January 2018
Steel will be erected for the new bridge in March. This bridge will carry two lanes of eastbound traffic when the road is opened.
Washington Gas, Potomac Edison and Verizon will begin major relocations of their utilities in the next two months to accommodate the new roadway alignment. The old bridge will be rehabilitated to include pedestrian safety fencing, lighting, and a widened sidewalk.
Traffic Concerns
The City understands the closure of Monocacy Boulevard creates some commuting challenges. The City's Engineering Department, Police and Mayor will be continuously monitoring traffic along the various detour routes and will evaluate potential modifications to traffic controls to improve the movement along those corridors.
MD 26: We are also coordinating with Maryland State Highway Administration and Frederick County, as needed, to address issues, since MD 26 is a State road, and Gas House Pike east of ALDI is within the County.
We believe the temporary inconvenience of Monocacy's closure will be well rewarded once the improved Monocacy Boulevard opens. Monitor this page for the latest alternate route recommendations.
Contact Us
Call us at 301-600-1498 to report concerns or ask questions.