The crack on a steel girder on the underside of the westbound Interstate 70 bridge over the Patapsco River was so small that it wouldn't catch the eye of most.

But within a half-hour of a bridge cleaning-and-painting contractor spotting it, a structural engineer with the State Highway Administration was on scene, and the bridge was closed to traffic.

About 100,000 vehicles travel over the bridge daily, and all were detoured for two days earlier this month as repairs were made. SHA Administrator Melinda Peters said her agency is "very conservative" when it comes to assessing bridge safety, and was "erring on the side of caution."

The decision to immediately put contractors to work shoring up the bridge was also in line with the agency's evolving modus operandi, officials said, of using newly available resources to bring an ever-increasing number of bridges into good condition before small issues become major problems.

"We've really been able to kick that up," said Earle "Jock" Freedman, longtime director of the SHA's Office of Structures, including bridges.

Local concerns about deteriorating infrastructure have increased recently following the collapse of a large retaining wall in Charles Village and the recent closure of Interstate 495 in Wilmington after the discovery of serious damage to several bridge supports there. The brief closure of I-70, as a result, led to more questions than normal from the already concerned public, said Valerie Burnette Edgar, a SHA spokeswoman.

But in Maryland in recent years, cause for concern should actually be going down, SHA officials said, because significant progress has been made improving the condition of state-maintained bridges largely thanks to dramatic increases in annual bridge repair funding, including from the state.

"We've really been getting good funding," Freedman said. "We've gotta be looking at these bridges and finding potential [problems] rather than reacting to things that we didn't expect."

"If you don't take care of your house, you're going to have problems," said Rod Thornton, the SHA's division chief of bridge design and rehabilitation, on the agency's "preventative measures" approach.

According to SHA data, funding for "Bridge System Preservation" has jumped from $62.2 million in fiscal 2002 to $176.1 million in fiscal 2014. In the same period, the number of "structurally deficient" bridges in the state fell from 148 to 81 or about 3 percent of the 2,700 bridges the state is responsible for, Freedman said.

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State making progress on bridge upkeep with increased funding

L S Painting Contractors (530) 345-4366
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Friday, June 13, 10:49 AM EDT

By Carole Hawkins, Staff Writer

On Wednesday, a morning team installing trim finished just in time for an afternoon crew to start painting.

Ive been double-checking schedules and making many phone calls this week, said Merten, Jacksonville division vice president for Toll Brothers, a Pennsylvania-based homebuilder.

What would be bad is if someone didnt show up, he said. Thankfully everyones been here on time.

Merten is one of more than 30 homebuilders and subcontractors leading projects for HabiJaxs Builders Blitz. More than 1,500 volunteers also participated in the weeklong event to build 25 homes and renovate 25 others in New Town.

Its HabiJaxs second Builders Blitz since the recession and the first in which Builders Care, the nonprofit arm of the Northeast Florida Builders Association, has returned as a partner to renovate old homes.

Its been a challenge for builders like Toll Brothers short-staffed and keen to capitalize on a long-awaited market recovery to spare workforce for the charity build. But Merten seemed to be enjoying the pressure.

Its different to work for free. Its fun to help out, he said. This is a beautiful area. It just needs some support.

One pair of hands helping Merten belongs to Alysa Booth, a 23-year old technical support specialist for Citigroup. Booth will move into the home at the end of the week. She didnt qualify when she applied for a home loan through a bank, but did qualify for HabiJaxs zero-interest loan program.

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Contractors blitz New Town to build, renovate 50 homes

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Rock County, WI Affordable Painting Contractors
(608) 931-3672. Absolute Improvements has been serving Janesville and the Rock County, WI area since 2003. Professional, affordable, top quality painting ser...

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Janesville, WI Affordable Painting Contractors
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Leading Painting Contractors Committed to Green Environment in Auckland

Citywide Decorators announces their dedicated environment friendly painting services for a greener Auckland

Auckland, 9 June, 2014: Committed to work towards ensuring a Greener Environment, Citywide Decorators will now be offering dedicated eco-friendly painting services to all homeowners in Auckland. By making use of low or zero VOC certified paint coatings, the company endeavors to surpass customer expectations in terms of quality and safety.

With over 20 years of experience in the painting industry, Citywide Decorators have been proudly improving residential and commercial properties throughout the Auckland area with great quality painting. Renowned as the best painters in Auckland, the painting contractors at Citywide Decorators are focusing on protecting and preserving the health of the customers family, kids, pets and the environment too.

According to company spokesperson, Citywide Decorators take it upon their shoulders to provide safe living spaces to Auckland residents. It is our corporate responsibility to take action to eliminate the toxic effects of traditional and conventional paints, which are loaded with hazardous chemicals and harmful VOCs.

He added, Citywide Decorators are committed to provide environmental friendly certified paint coatings by making use of low or zero VOCs that meet regulatory standards including safe disposal practices.

There arent many paint companies in Auckland that deal in environmentally friendly paints. These paints are relatively expensive, but Citywide Decorators claim to offer more affordable quotes in order to encourage more people to adapt to environmentally friendly lifestyle.

Although for years people have gotten homes painted with ordinary paints and not really experienced severe health consequences, but in todays time when consumers are becoming more aware and want to show responsibility towards the surroundings, choosing eco-friendly paints has rather become a necessity and not merely another option.

About Citywide Decorators:

Specializing in interior and exterior house painting, commercial painting, roof painting and professional house washing, Citywide Decorators have been successfully serving the residents of Auckland from the past 20 years.

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Leading Painting Contractors Committed to Green Environment