Alternate Routes

Road construction will force the closure of parts of northbound and southbound Interstate 97 between Route 3 (New Cut Road) and the Baltimore Beltway through Sunday.The construction will take place along I-97 in the vicinity of the Wellham Avenue bridge, about one-half mile north of Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard. Work will run from 8 p.m. today to 6 a.m. tomorrow and continue from 8 p.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday.The closures are necessary to ensure safety during the installation of structural steel for the new Wellham Avenue bridge.

Expect traffic problems if you're trying to get to Navy's home football game against Air Force on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Because of the United States Sailboat Show at Annapolis City Dock and construction on Route 50, police and naval academy officials are urging fans to arrive early and use alternate routes.A crowd of close to 35,000 is expected for the game at Navy- Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.From Baltimore, try to avoid Interstate 97, which merges with Route 50. Consider taking Route 2 (or Route 10 to Route 2)

We've been hearing it for years: Eat right, exercise regularly and you'll feel better, have more energy and won't be sick as often.If anyone wants evidence that eating nutritious foods and exercising works, talk to Gail M. Doerr of Eldersburg. Rather than spend money on doctors and drugs, she concentrates on taking care of herself and her family using what has come to be known as "alternative" methods.Mrs. Doerr, who has a master's degree in education and counseling, is a health and fitness counselor with a local chiropractor.

Prepare to be really annoyed.For the 20,000 drivers a day who use Route 30 through Hampstead, the long drive will be longer than usual most of this week.Route 30 will be shut down at the northern rail crossing from 9 a.m. tomorrow until 3 p.m. Friday, according to the State Highway Administration.CSX Transportation will install a new rubberized crossing that should provide a smoother surface for vehicle traffic.It also will have a longer life than the current crossing."Hopefully, Monday will be the worst day," said Hampstead Police Chief Ken Russell, who said he thinks people will find alternate routes after one miserable rush hour.

By the end of this decade, traffic engineers envision highway where your --board computer lets you know instantly of accidents, lengthy backups and the best alternate routes. Sound like wishful science fiction? Not judging from steps taken recently in Maryland and New York to bring high-technology applications to roadways.Last month, Maryland officials approved a $2 million plan for a traffic management center near BWI Airport that will monitor cameras along highways and sensors implanted in the roadbeds to spot accidents, vehicle breakdowns and heavy traffic.

Here's what to look for if you are traveling in the Baltimore metropolitan area this week. This list of highway projects includes only newly announced work, not continuing construction.New highway projectsWest Ring Factory Road, between Route 924 and Route 24, south of Bel Air -- Will be closed to traffic until February from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays for reconstruction. Motorists are urged to use Bel Air South Parkway.Cool Branch Road between Route 136 and Rolling Green Road in Churchville -- Will be closed until the middle of October while the earthen banks along Cool Branch are reconstructed.

A highway design drawn up by a day care mother on a legal pad emerged last week as a likely alternative to bitterly contested plans for Route 100 through southern Ellicott City."

College graduates who want to become public school teachers but didn't major in education will now have a much easier time of it, thanks to a new rule approved yesterday by the State Board of Education.The board created a "resident teacher certificate" category that allows qualified liberal arts graduates to take and hold teaching jobs without having to submit to a full program of education courses.The move puts Maryland into the growing category of states that permit alternative routes to certification.