Extreme Heat, Cool Water Led To Tuesday Morning’s Route 50 Bridge Malfunction

OCEAN CITY — An extreme differential in the air and water temperatures caused the Route 50 Bridge into Ocean City to malfunction early Tuesday morning, but adjustments have been made to prevent a similar occurrence heading into the height of the summer season.

Around 6 a.m. on Tuesday, the Route 50 Bridge was raised and lowered as planned, but the gates that prevent traffic from moving across the draw span were stuck in the down position. The malfunction caused a brief traffic backup, such as it is at 6 a.m. on a Tuesday morning, and many motorists opted to turn around and backtrack to Route 90 to get into the resort.

“The bridge tender raised the bridge, closed it and seated it as usual, but the gates didn’t open,” said State Highway Administration Media Relations Manager David Buck on Wednesday. “It was the first time it ever happened on the Route 50 Bridge. It has happened on other bridges around the state, but never at the Ocean City bridge. It was rectified in about 15 minutes.”

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