Road Closed To Drivers, Canal Blocked Off From Boaters

JOPPATOWNE, MD — Drivers will need to find an alternate route when a section of Bridge Drive closes for approximately six weeks starting next Monday for bridge work. Boaters also will need to avoid the area during work hours.

The road closure will be in effect so that crews can carry out maintenance and repair the bridge spanning the Gunpowder River. The road closure stretches between Towne Center Drive and Shore Drive. Emergency vehicles and school buses will not be allowed across the bridge at any time, during the closure, officials said.

There will be a detour in place starting Oct. 20.

The United States Coast Guard also said that a construction firm will be working on the fixed spans on the Bridge Drive bridge (Joppatowne Canal), mile 0.8, in Harford County. There will be a working barge blocking the channel from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays starting Oct. 13 through Nov. 21. The barge will be moved outside the navigational channel during non-working hours.

"The project manager will monitor VHF-FM channel 13. All mariners should use extreme caution when transiting the area," the Coast Guard stated.

A map of all current and planned county road closures is on the county website at https://www.harfordcountymd.gov/1164/Road-Closures.