Howard County Bridge Lane Closures Start Monday: 2026-08-08

Double lane closures hit four Howard County bridges starting Monday. Here's what drivers need to know before the workweek.

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In today's brief

quick-weather

Saturday morning: patchy fog then chance showers and thunderstorms, high near 92 degrees. Southwest wind 2 to 7 mph.

Cold Open

Good morning, it's Saturday, August 8th, and this is the HoCo Brief. Here's what I've got for you today. Lane closures hit four county bridges starting Monday, so your drive to work may change. The 80th Howard County Fair opens this weekend. In Ellicott City, the Crazy Mason milkshake bar is closing, and a music venue is moving in. And Pepper House, one of the best rated Chinese restaurants in the country, is growing beyond Ellicott City.

Top Story

Double lane closures start Monday on four Howard County bridges. The closures are for maintenance work on the spans, and word went out Friday. If your commute crosses a county bridge, plan on reduced lanes and slower traffic starting Monday morning, and build in a few extra minutes through the workweek. Bridge maintenance closures like these typically run during daytime work hours, so the morning and evening rush are where you'll feel it most.

restaurant-pick

Today's restaurant pick is Pepper House in Ellicott City. Yelp ranked it the 11th best Chinese restaurant in the entire country in 2024, and now it's expanding. Owners Yuan Shen and Frank are opening a second location in mid October at the R. House food hall, 301 West 29th Street in Baltimore's Remington neighborhood.

community-spotlight

The Crazy Mason Milkshake Bar in Ellicott City is closing at the end of summer. Taking its place: a new community music venue called The Corner, a space for local musicians and artists. So if you've got a Crazy Mason favorite, you have a few weeks left to order it one more time. And if you play music in Howard County, a new stage is on the way to Main Street.

hoco-moment

Today's HoCo moment comes from TikTok creator Auntie Rina, who took her followers through Patapsco Valley State Park this week. Her tip for anyone confused at the trailhead: there are actually two Patapsco parks, about 15 minutes apart, and the Avalon area is the bigger one, the one with the waterfall. A good local fact to have in your pocket before a weekend hike.

What to Do This Weekend

The 80th annual Howard County Fair kicks off this weekend at the fairgrounds. Fair Association president Jim Moxley put it this way: agriculture is not just history in Howard County, it is still alive. In Ellicott City, the Paint It! Ellicott City open paint exhibit is up at the Howard County Welcome Center, Tuesday through Sunday, 10 to 5, with an opening reception Sunday.

coming-up

Looking at the week ahead. HCPSS is running two school supply drives with its education foundation Bright Minds and the nonprofit Prepare for Success, aimed at getting students what they need before classes start. On August 15, an Anne Arundel County couple's new nonprofit hosts a hygiene product drive for local students, one county over but open to anyone who wants to help.

quick-hits

Also today. County Executive Calvin Ball broke ground this week on the school system's first regional pre-K center. HCPSS students beat state averages again on the 2026 Maryland state achievement tests, with math and English scores continuing to climb districtwide. The school system also says its five year special education plan is moving ahead, with expanded coaching and new tiers of student support.

Editor's Take

Here's what I'm watching. Ellicott City's food scene is telling two stories at once this week. Crazy Mason is closing, which stings if your kids grew up on those milkshakes. But Pepper House, a spot Yelp called the 11th best Chinese restaurant in America, is expanding out to Baltimore. And the Crazy Mason space isn't going dark, it's becoming a music venue.

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About HoCo Brief

What is HoCo Brief?

HoCo Brief is an independent daily news brief covering Howard County, Maryland, including Columbia, Ellicott City, Elkridge, Clarksville, and Laurel. Each morning we cover county government, HCPSS schools, public safety, development permits, weather, and weekend events in about five minutes.

When does a new brief come out?

A new episode publishes every morning at 5:30 AM Eastern, seven days a week. You can watch it on YouTube, listen as a podcast, or read the full text of every story right here on the site.

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Stories are gathered from official Howard County sources: county government releases, the Howard County Public School System, county police and fire, permit filings, and local event calendars. Every story carries a link to the original source.

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