Construction begins on new US 15 Interchange at Monocacy Boulevard

Nearly 45,000 drivers travel through this area each day and traffic is projected to increase by 15,000 additional drivers by the year 2035. The $59 million project will provide direct access to US 15 and a 400-space ridesharing facility in the northeastern corner of the interchange that will connect to MTA Commuter Bus line #515.

Construction of the US 15 / Monocacy Boulevard interchange also involve widening and deck replacement of the northbound and southbound US 15 Bridges over Tuscarora Creek to accommodate acceleration/deceleration lanes at the interchange; realigning Thomas Johnson Drive from Byte Drive to the east to create a T-intersection with Christophers Crossing; creating a cul-de-sac at Hayward Road and closing the median opening on US 15.

Crews will also reconfigure the US 15 / Willow Road intersection to restrict U-turns or left turns, except for emergency services vehicles. Lengthening the deceleration and acceleration lanes for traffic making U-turns from northbound US 15 to southbound US 15 at Biggs Ford Road will also improve safety, along with resurfacing US 15 from south of Hayward Road to Willow Road. Once complete, the new interchange will allow SHA to close the existing at-grade US 15 / Hayward Road intersection. In the next few weeks, crews will install barrier walls along the US 15 median; this work will require nighttime lane closures.

As part of its efforts to maintain works zones for crews and drivers, automated speed enforcement cameras will be deployed along US 15 beginning Tuesday, September 8. A 21-day warning period will follow, and the Maryland State Police will authorize citations starting Tuesday, September 29. The speed limit in the work zone will remain at 50 mph for southbound US 15, and at 55 mph for northbound US 15. Drivers excessively speeding by 12 or more miles over the speed limit, or 62 and 67 mph or more, face a $40 civil citation.