I-68 Cumberland Viaduct deck work on hold; $45 million construction removed
The state's 2027 six-year plan moves the Cumberland Viaduct project out of construction and removes its construction money until a planning study is finished.
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The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) has moved the deck replacement of the I-68 Cumberland Viaduct out of the construction program. The change appears in the state’s 2027 Consolidated Transportation Program (CTP), which removes $45 million in construction funding until a planning study is finished.
What changed for the Cumberland Viaduct
The viaduct, Bridge No. 0109600 in Allegany County, carries between 30,900 and 48,800 vehicles a day, according to the SHA Allegany County listing in the 2027 CTP. The project now sits in the Development and Evaluation Program, and its design is on hold until the planning study is complete. The listing expects that study to finish in fiscal year (FY) 2028. The 2026 CTP listing expected it in FY 2027.
The study is funded by a $1.6 million Bridge Investment Program planning grant, with a $400,000 state match. It will develop conceptual alternatives and assess effects on community connectivity.
How the 2027 and 2026 plans compare
| Project | 2026 CTP total | 2027 CTP total | Main change |
|---|---|---|---|
| I-68 Cumberland Viaduct (Bridge No. 0109600) | $51.9 million, including $45 million for construction | $6.9 million, with no construction funding | Moved to planning; construction funding removed |
| MD 51 Old Town Road (Bridge No. 0104700) | $17.5 million | $18.6 million | Up $1.1 million for added design costs |
| MD 144 Naves Cross Road (Bridge No. 0109100) | $10.3 million | $10.2 million | 2027 listing: construction anticipated to begin in FY 2027; 2026 listing gives no start date |
| US 220 McMullen Highway, Cresaptown | $6.8 million | $6.7 million | Listing reports no significant change |
The totals come from each listing’s cost table, in thousands of dollars converted to millions.
Other Allegany County projects
MD 51 Old Town Road replaces Bridge No. 0104700 over Town Creek. The bridge was built in 1932 and is rated poor. Engineering is underway.
MD 144 Naves Cross Road replaces Bridge No. 0109100 over Evitts Creek. The bridge was built in 1966 and is rated poor. Engineering is underway, and the 2027 listing anticipates construction beginning in FY 2027.
US 220 McMullen Highway in Cresaptown would add turn lanes and sidewalks at intersections with MD 53 and MD 636. Engineering and right-of-way acquisition are underway.
What the listings do not say
Neither listing gives a start date for work on the viaduct. Neither says how traffic will be handled while the study runs. The 2027 pages are dated Aug. 1, 2026; the listing does not show a publication date.
Questions and answers
- Is the I-68 Cumberland Viaduct deck replacement still in the state's plans?
- The 2027 Consolidated Transportation Program places the project in the Development and Evaluation Program instead of construction. Its design is on hold until a planning study is complete, which the listing expects in fiscal year 2028. Source: MDOT SHA Allegany County listing, 2027 CTP.
- When will work start on the Cumberland Viaduct deck?
- The 2027 Consolidated Transportation Program gives no construction start date for the viaduct and shows no construction funding in its six-year total. Source: MDOT SHA Allegany County listing, 2027 CTP.