Rainy Weather Delays Route 2 Paving

If you spend time driving up and down Ritchie Highway in Severna Park and Arnold, it’s hard to miss the resurfacing that’s been taking place on the road.

As of Tuesday, some lanes on Route 2 have been stripped while others haven’t, which results in uneven lanes and a bumpy ride around town. The State Highway Administration (SHA) is repaving Ritchie Highway from Route 50 in Arnold to Robinson Road in Severna Park.

Bob Rager, a spokesman for the SHA, said crews plan to finish milling or grinding this week, and will begin paving next week. Rager said the paving will be done between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., and should take about two weeks.

While summer is peak paving season, Rager said it is also peak thunderstorm season, which can result in resurfacing delays. The last few weeks have seen heavy amounts of rain, which has delayed the project.

“I know we always talk about how weather influences this kind of work, but I've probably never taken the time to explain how/why,” Rager said in an email. "There are two basic reasons. One is safety.”

In general, contractors are not allowed to close a lane if the road is wet, Rager said. If paving is supposed to begin at 9 p.m., and then it rains at 8 p.m., contractors are not allowed to close a lane.

“It's possible that conditions could improve later in the night—good drainage and friction from vehicle tires can help dry a road surface quickly,” Rager said. “So the contractor could get a late start.  Of course, much depends on forecasts.”

Rager added, “It takes time to setup a lane closure and mobilize paving equipment.  If weather is iffy and it doesn't look like we can get several hours of productivity, it's generally not worth setting up the work zone for that day/night.”

Rager said the other reason they need dry roads for resurfacing is that “track coat” is applied before the asphalt, which provides adhesion between new and old surfaces. 

As for the uneven lanes, Rager said crews are working each night to get as much done as possible. He urged motorists to be patient and careful when driving on the road. 

“As with every resurfacing project, SHA asks motorists to be patient and pay attention to all road work/caution signs,” Rager said. “All drivers—especially motorcyclists—need to pay attention to the different pavement conditions and be very careful when making lane changes.”