by Geoff Fox
Pieces of the U.S. 522 bridge over Limestone Road near Pizza Hut have fallen from its underside into the road, causing local concerns about safety.
The Hancock News reached out to the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration via email, including two pictures of one of those pieces, to see if they were aware of the situation, and until last Thursday, they had not been informed about the damage.
In an email, Charlie Gischlar, Deputy Director for the SHA, said crews examined the area under the bridge and did in fact find concrete pieces on the shoulders.
“What is seen here is called concrete spall, which is common on aging bridges and has no impact on the strength of the structure,” he said. “This is an issue that the State Highway Administration tries to stay ahead of.”
That portion of the U.S. 522 bridge is slated for inspection beginning Monday, August 26, until Thursday, August 29.
Gischlar added SHA bridge crews would also be installing monitoring devices to provide a thorough assessment of the structure to help them determine the type and duration of repairs to the bridge, which would ensure years of reliable service for highway users.
The issue was first brought to Hancock town officials during the August town meeting on Tuesday, August 13, when local resident Mike Crist brought a piece of the rock substance with him.
During citizen comments, Crist said he wanted to say something to town officials to make it official.
Mayor Roland Lanehart, Jr. described the piece as the smallest of what had fallen. There were larger pieces, with Crist adding the other pieces were lying along Limestone Road close to Widmeyer Park.
Crist said you could see on the underside of the bridge where the pieces had fallen. Several pieces, Crist said, are about a foot and a half in size.
“That’s pretty dangerous, in my opinion,” he said.
The Hancock News looked at the bridge on Friday afternoon and could see the spots where pieces had fallen away.
