Parts of New Hampshire Ave closed

A contractor working on New Hampshire Avenue as part of the Intercounty Connector project struck a gas line at about noon today, causing the emergency closure of a stretch of the road from Randolph Road in Wheaton north to Bonifant/Good Hope roads. Closures are expected to last through tonight's rush hour.

Traffic is being detoured to Randolph Road, Bonifant Road and Layhill Road.

The work was part of a traffic shift for a new bridge to carry MD 650 motorists over the ICC. Northbound MD 650 traffic was shifted to the new bridge last weekend; southbound MD 650 traffic is expected to be shifted the weekend of August 14, state officials said.