As travelers navigate across western Maryland on Interstate 68 there is an unmistakeable skyline just 6 miles west of Hancock. It is the Sideling Hill Road Cut. A large cut passage through the mountain that carries travelers on Interstate 68 east and west between the City of Cumberland and the town of Hancock.
Before construction of Interstate 68, the mountain created difficulty for early travelers. In the 1800s the Old National Road was a very steep, narrow and windy path. The road was very dangerous with many sharp steep turns resulting in many accidents. Many travelers feared navigating the dangerous roadway.
Maryland officials decided to build an interstate highway to connect I-79 in West Virginia and I81 in Maryland. The most challenging planning involved Sidling Hill. Many options were considered including a tunnel. However, tunnels were very expensive to maintain as proven by the PA Turnpike Tunnels and the nearby railroad tunnels.
In April 1983 construction began. Over the next 16 months 2600 tons of explosives were used to break apart over 10 million tons of rock to form the passage. Ledges also called benches were formed on each side to catch falling rock and reduce risks to travelers. The 340 ft deep cut in the mountain was completed in August 1984. Then finally, the Interstate through the cut was opened in August 1985.
In 1991 a bridge and scenic overlooks were constructed to highlight the beautiful landscape of Allegany county to the west and Washington County to the east. An exhibit center was also constructed at this time to highlight exposed rock and the sounding areas. In 2009 the exhibit center was permanently closed due to budget cuts and some of the exhibits were relocated to the nearby Hancock Museum.
A rest area is open at the site for traffic heading both direction.
References:
www.amusingpla...
www.mgs.md.gov/...
www.amusingpla...
www.fhwa.dot.g...
Music from Artlist: Boundary by Kevin Graham
4 окт 2024
