U.S. 40 (National Pike) crosses over the Conococheague Creek in Maryland's Washington County via a two-lane bridge perched on two concrete piers. The bridge is a triple–span, reinforced concrete, open-arched design. It is in an idyllic location for fishermen and kayakers to access a favorite recreation spot.
Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration photo
The concrete arch bridge has been in use since 1936 and predates America's Interstate Highway System by decades. Today, U.S. 40 parallels and intertwines with I-70, especially in the Hagerstown area, and serves as a gateway to the Pennsylvania Turnpike in the north, the college town of Morgantown, W.Va., in the west and Pittsburgh via Interstate 79.
Although the bridge is structurally sound for traffic, it has deteriorated over the years and is now undergoing extensive renovation. Traffic has been rerouted off the bridge and onto nearby I-70 during the construction. Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (SHA) is overseeing the project, with area engineer Dan McKenzie holding the reins.
The $18 million project is one of several jobs SHA has under way in the county, including improvements on I-70 at its interchange with I-81 and bridge replacements on I-70 at St. Paul Road. Together these projects consist of approximately $90 million worth of design and construction contracts.
"The bridge has several standout features which our team plans to replicate during the reconstruction," said McKenzie. "The existing spandrel columns will be replaced as well as the bridge deck. Crews will also install new parapets and railings that meet new safety standards while honoring the look of the historic bridge. The rehabilitated bridge will have added shoulders on either side of the two lanes."
Kokosing Construction of Westerville, Ohio, is handling the project. Its construction team will seamlessly integrate new architectural features to fit with the old bridge.
Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration photo
"Their team will be using steel forms with wood to replicate the look of the old bridge," said McKenzie. "Kokosing also has built special mechanisms for removing the old spandrel columns while still supporting the old bridge."
He also noted the company's commitment to safety. Although the bridge is just 40 ft. above the creek, Kokosing is strict about workers maintaining safety gear and following proper "tie-off" procedures. The company also built platforms and scaffolding almost to the top of the arches of the old bridge, enhancing safety and ease of movement for the workers. In addition, workers assembled debris shields to keep construction material out of the creek.
The contractor was not allowed to be in the stream from March 1-May 3. 2025. Kokosing built a temporary bridge of steel and wood to enable the cranes to stay out of the water yet comfortably reach the bridge for repair.
Construction teams have completed work on one of the pier foundations, with work on the second progressing rapidly.
Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration photo
"Workers built coffer dams to do the work of encapsulating the old piers and building new structures," said McKenzie. "It was a challenge to keep them dry; we had to use two pumps with 6-inch hoses to keep the water out."
McKenzie was impressed at Kokosing's approach to demo on the bridge columns.
"They brought in two hydraulic cylinders to first puncture the spandrels, then smash the concrete. This was something the company had specially constructed for this project. I think it showed some ‘outside the box' thinking. Their approach saved the time-consuming chore of hand chipping of the concrete."
Once the piers are secured, the construction team will begin producing a new concrete deck and pave the approaches to the bridge. The team will be using some 1,500 yds. of concrete, 300 tons of asphalt and approximately 300,000 lbs. of rebar for the project.
Equipment for the job included
Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration photo
• a Link-Belt 1400 22,000-lb. lift;
• a Grove 150 18,000-lb. lift;
• a John Deere 544 loader with 9-ft. bucket;
• a JLG Manlift 500 LB cap;
• a John Deere 450 dozer;
• a Grove RT765E2 110-ft. reach, 16,000-lb. lift;
• a Cat 340 excavator with 27-ft reach; and
• a Cat 305 excavator with 15-ft. reach.
The project is approximately one-third complete with an opening date of August 2026.
"School buses will be returning to their schedule, EMS crews need access and many locals will also be back to their regular work schedule," said McKenzie. "To meet those dates, Kokosing will be working through the winter."
At the conclusion of the project, the team will build a kayak launch on the east side of the creek. CEG
