Route 136 Detour In Place For Weeklong Pipe Removal Project

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — A high-impact road closure is planned in Harford County this week, according to the Maryland State Highway Administration.

MD 136/Priestford Road will be closed for one week to allow for underground pipe replacement a half-mile south of Cool Spring Road, starting at 9 a.m. Friday, April 9, weather permitting.

A 48-inch metal drainage pipe on Route 136 was repaired by state highway crews in summer 2020, but authorities said a new concrete pipe is needed to replace it.

Due to the narrowness of the road, Route 136 will be shut down between US 1 and Route 22 for the duration of the weeklong project.

A 12-mile detour route will be posted on state highways including Conowingo Road, the Bel Air Bypass, Route 543/Fountain Green Road and Route 22. (See the map at the bottom of the article.)

Local roads and driveways north and south of the work zone will be accessible — in the 700 block of Priestford Road — according to the State Highway Administration.

For drivers going south on Route 136, the detour south of Dublin will be as follows:

• Turn right onto US 1 South (Conowingo Road), and proceed to the US 1 Bypass to Route 543.
• Turn left onto Route 543 (Fountain Green Road) south to Route 22.
• Turn left onto Route 22 (Churchville Road) east back to Route 136.

For drivers headed north on Route 136, this is the detour route north of Churchville:

• Turn left onto Route 22 west to Route 543.
• Turn right onto Route 543 north to US 1.
• Turn right onto US 1 Bypass north and proceed on US 1 north back to Route 136.

Route 136 is slated to reopen in the area by 9 a.m. Friday, April 16. The schedule is subject to change based on weather, according to state highway officials.