FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (Sept. 26, 2025) – Reece Road between Cooper Avenue and MacArthur Road reopened to two-way traffic Sept. 25, nearly four months earlier than originally planned.
The roadway closed July 21 as part of the Cooper Avenue widening project and was scheduled to remain closed for six months. Instead, the contractor completed the work in just two months, reducing the closure period by more than half.
The full closure of the road allowed multiple stages of construction to be done at the same time, greatly condensing the actual need for the closure, said Beki Mitiku, project manager and general engineer with the Directorate of Public Works here.
“This project was designed to be completed in stages, with one lane closed at a time. Each stage needed to be completed before moving on to the next. However, the full closure allowed multiple stages to be performed simultaneously, shortening the overall time it takes to complete the work,” Mitiku said. “Additionally, the contractor took advantage of the available workspace and expedited the work by allocating more resources.”
The early reopening is a significant benefit to anyone traveling across the installation.
“Reopening a lane ahead of schedule allows for the community to resume using their normal route much earlier than expected. They will no longer need to rely on detour routes and can return to direct paths to their destination,” she said.
Mitiku was thankful for the cooperation of those impacted by the closure.
“The community’s cooperation and patience made it possible to reduce what was originally a six-month project to just two months. We appreciate the community’s understanding and support throughout this road closure because it has enabled us to accelerate the work and recover a portion of the construction schedule.”
The Cooper Avenue widening project will continue in phases. Garrison officials will provide updates as work progresses. For the latest information, follow Fort Meade on social media @USAGFortMeade, check the installation website at home.army.mil/meade/, and download the My Army Post app.
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