Weekend MD Rt. 28 Bridge closure over the Monocacy River
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Weekend MD Rt. 28 Bridge closure over the Monocacy River
Over the weekend I did an old favorite ride, a 52 mile loop around Sugarloaf - short writeup here.
I had been in that area hiking and seen the detour signs: on weekends, the Rt. 28 bridge over the Monocacy River is closed for maintenance. I detoured down Mouth of Monocacy Road to the Towpath, crossing the river on the Monocacy Aqueduct, then upstream to Nolands Ferry and back to Rt. 28. Nice way to go, but at 11am or so very large crowds at Monocacy.
I had been in that area hiking and seen the detour signs: on weekends, the Rt. 28 bridge over the Monocacy River is closed for maintenance. I detoured down Mouth of Monocacy Road to the Towpath, crossing the river on the Monocacy Aqueduct, then upstream to Nolands Ferry and back to Rt. 28. Nice way to go, but at 11am or so very large crowds at Monocacy.
#2
Blazer of saddles, trails
They’ve been working in that bridge, off and on, for at least a year. Wonder when they’ll wrap it up. But a good excuse to go down to the Mouth if the Monocacy. Beautiful spot and I always get a kick out of the idea of a bridge for boats.
However, your route missed my two favorite roads around Sugarloaf: Mt. Ephram and Peters. Both gravel and wooded along streams, they offer a nice respite from Park Mills.
However, your route missed my two favorite roads around Sugarloaf: Mt. Ephram and Peters. Both gravel and wooded along streams, they offer a nice respite from Park Mills.
#3
Senior Member
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I have a Jamis Renegade steel bike (I guess now called a gravel bike) with wider tires that I use to do a shorter loop around Sugarloaf, using Sugarlloaf Mountain Road, Peters, and Mt. Ephraim - with an extension onto Harris Road and then Barnesville Road back to Mt. Ephraim. Over the winter (when not so crowded) park at the top to force myself to climb up at the end! Really enjoyable, tough ride.
That is definitely one I like to clockwise - the first time I did it, I went counter-clockwise and said "hey, this is great - I'm going down a short section of the Park Mill Wall instead of up!" Until I remembered I had to jam on the brakes and make a left turn just before the bottom of the hill to get on Mt. Ephraim!
That is definitely one I like to clockwise - the first time I did it, I went counter-clockwise and said "hey, this is great - I'm going down a short section of the Park Mill Wall instead of up!" Until I remembered I had to jam on the brakes and make a left turn just before the bottom of the hill to get on Mt. Ephraim!
#4
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Over the weekend I did an old favorite ride, a 52 mile loop around Sugarloaf - short writeup here.
Paul
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
That bridge is open during the week, they are doing final maintenance and cleanup on weekends apparently. That bridge is no longer listed on the MD DOT projects page - I think the weekend closures are over.
The ride I do is local favorite known as Back of Sugarloaf - the Ride With GPS file is here. There are many variations.
There are very few roads with shoulders but most are low traffic and everyone is used to bicycles. Rt 28 is higher speeds, higher traffic - that is the one down side of this route, the long stretch on 28 The Monocacy to the Towpath alternative is a nice way to go if things are dry.
The ride I do is local favorite known as Back of Sugarloaf - the Ride With GPS file is here. There are many variations.
There are very few roads with shoulders but most are low traffic and everyone is used to bicycles. Rt 28 is higher speeds, higher traffic - that is the one down side of this route, the long stretch on 28 The Monocacy to the Towpath alternative is a nice way to go if things are dry.
Last edited by jpescatore; 06-28-20 at 05:38 AM.
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