Some Roads Remain Closed Because of Debris and High Water<\/p>\n
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(August 29, 2011 at 4:30 p.m.) \u2013 Despite the tireless efforts of State Highway Administration (SHA), Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA), local jurisdictions, contract and utility crews continuing Hurricane Irene recovery, several road closures and traffic signal outages persist.\u00a0 Felled trees tangled with wires and high water continue to close two dozen state roads in Maryland, down from a list of nearly 200 on Sunday.\u00a0 Darkened traffic signals pose safety hazards at more than 100 intersections, where other roadway lighting may be out as well due to power outages.<\/p>\n
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Maryland State Police, MDTA Police and local law enforcement continue to respond to incidents and work to keep people safe.\u00a0 Motorists are urged to remain cautious and vigilant, especially when traveling in unfamiliar areas as darkened traffic signals can be difficult to detect.\u00a0\u00a0 If crossing an intersection with a signal without power:<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Do not assume other drivers will yield<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Reduce speed approaching intersections \u2013 but be courteous and take turns<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 During daylight hours, wave and make eye contact with pedestrians and drivers at intersections<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 At night, flash your headlights to get the attention of other drivers to indicate yielding<\/p>\n
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Obey restricted lanes at dark intersections, cones are used to minimize conflict points<\/p>\n
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\u201cWith the storm over many of us are getting back to our normal routines, but we still need to be extra cautious since weakened limbs and trees in saturated ground could still fall onto roads, blocking lanes or hitting power lines,\u201d said SHA Acting Administrator Darrell B. Mobley.\u00a0 \u201cOur crews are continuing to work to restore signals and repair roads but with power still out in many areas, all drivers and pedestrians need to look out for one another.\u201d<\/p>\n
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SHA also encourages you to try the new 511 traveler Information Service and Know Before You Go by dialing 511 or 1-855-GO-MD511 (1-855-466-3511) or logging onto\u00a0www.MD511.org<\/a>.\u00a0 With 511, you can see the same information available to SHA\u2019s CHART personnel at the 24-7 operations center.\u00a0\u00a0 With the power outages, some of the cameras and overhead signs are not available, but will be added when power is restored.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When traveling this week:<\/p>\n \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Remain alert for highway and utility crews<\/p>\n \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Do not try to cross a road with high\/standing water.\u00a0 Water depth is difficult to perceive.\u00a0 Eighty \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0percent of flood-related deaths occur in vehicles.\u00a0\u00a0 Two feet of rapidly moving water can float a bus and six inches can knock a person off his or her feet.<\/p>\n \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Do not attempt to drive around police or highway personnel who are blocking roads \u2013 they are doing so for a reason \u2013 your safety.<\/p>\n \u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Do not approach areas where there are downed or damaged power and transmission wires and cables.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Citizens are also asked to report locations along State-maintained routes where traffic safety may be affected as a result of Hurricane Irene.\u00a0 A list of SHA maintenance shops statewide is available at roads.maryland.gov.\u00a0 For current information on Maryland\u2019s overall response to the hurricane and its aftermath, visit\u00a0www.mema.state.md.us<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Some Roads Remain Closed Because of Debris and High Water (August 29, 2011 at 4:30 p.m.) \u2013 Despite the tireless efforts of State Highway Administration (SHA), Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA), local jurisdictions, contract and utility crews continuing Hurricane Irene recovery, several road closures and traffic signal outages persist.\u00a0 Felled trees tangled with wires and Read the Rest…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[15,234],"class_list":["post-384","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-15","tag-roadsm-hurricane"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t