NPS to fast-track pothole repairs on Baltimore-Washington Parkway this weekend

LANDOVER, Md. (FOX 5 DC) - FOX 5 learned Wednesday the National Park Service will fast-track repairs on the pothole-plagued Baltimore-Washington Parkway as soon as this weekend.

Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen told us that he's been following drivers' stories and has been pressing the NPS to speed up repairs.

Maryland officials got word Wednesday the NPS will use "emergency contracting funds" and deploy "pothole killer" repair trucks this weekend. A full resurfacing - which was not scheduled until this fall - will now start in early April.

Van Hollen credits drivers for speaking out.

"We were following the news reports and I raised this at a Senate hearing so yes. This this is an example of when people make their views known and point a specific challenge we were able to get on the job," said Van Hollen.

NPS says they will close parts of the southbound lanes on the BW Parkway from MD-198 to MD-197 for two nights this weekend from 7:30 p.m. on Friday to 5 a.m. on Saturday. Meanwhile, they will close the northbound lanes from MD-198 to MD-197 starting at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday until 5 a.m. on Sunday.