Date: March 8, 2017
Contact: Andrew Banasik, 301-696-0130
Frederick, MD –The National Park Service (NPS) has approved a plan to replace the Urbana Pike (MD355) bridge that crosses the CSX railroad and borders Monocacy National Battlefield.
The bridge replacement project will be managed by the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) and funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The NPS has worked closely with SHA and FHWA to ensure the bridge design will minimize impacts on the historic character and natural resources of the battlefield, while providing substantial improvements to visitor accessibility and safety.
As part of the design approval process, the National Park Service completed an environmental assessment for the bridge replacement project as required under the National Environmental Policy Act and National Historic Preservation Act. The analysis found that the project will have no significant impacts on the battlefield.
The project is estimated to begin construction sometime in the summer of 2017 and last 18-24 months.
Initially established as a National Military Park in 1934, Monocacy National Battlefield commemorates “The Battle that Saved Washington,” fought on July 9, 1864. The park consists of six historic properties covering 1,647 acres and served nearly 80,000 visitors in 2016.
The Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact are available online via the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment website at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/md355bridge.
