MAJOR TRAFFIC PATTERN CHANGE COMING TO US 13 SALISBURY BYPASS NEXT WEEK

Temporary Shift to Bidirectional Traffic Needed for 11-Bridge Rehabilitation Project; Motorists Urged to Use Caution and Allow Extra Travel Time

The first of four major traffic shifts for the US 13 (Salisbury Bypass) 11-bridge rehabilitation project will take place Monday, October 24. The Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) will use median and ramp crossovers, concrete barrier and signage to redirect US 13 northbound motorists to the southbound side of US 13 prior to the US 50 interchange. This bidirectional flow will continue beyond the Norfolk Southern railroad overpass where northbound US 13 traffic will cross back over the median and resume normal flow. All ramp movements will be maintained.

The shift will allow crews to begin rehabilitation of the US 13 northbound bridges over US 50, MD 346 (Old Ocean City Road) and the railroad. In November, SHA will send northbound US 13 traffic into bidirectional flow slightly further to the south, using a median crossover just south of Parker Pond. This will allow work to begin on the northbound US 13 bridges over Parker Pond and MD 350 (Mt. Hermon Road).

In May, SHA will return US 13 to normal flow north of US 50 in anticipation of heavy summer beach traffic. From October 2017 to May 2018 traffic will run bidirectional on the northbound lanes to accommodate rehabilitation of the southbound bridges. All work will be completed by summer 2018.

Speed limits through the work zone will be reduced from 65 to 55 mph. Click here for information about the project.

SHA awarded the construction contract to Corman Construction of Annapolis Junction. Every day, 36,225 vehicles travel the Bypass and this volume is expected to reach 53,000 by 2035. The bypass is a major beach route with traffic increasing 15 percent during the summer.

While SHA and its transportation partners work hard to maintain safe traffic mobility in work zones, each driver needs to actively modify his or her driving style to help prevent crashes. Stay alert and look for reduced speed limits, narrow driving lanes and highway workers. Slow down and don’t follow too closely. Work Zone Safety is in Your Hands.

A complete listing of current SHA projects is included in e-Road Ready 2016, the online brochure. Maryland drivers can also know before they go by calling 511 or visiting www.md511.org for live traffic updates, including construction delays and lane closures.

Those who have questions about this project may contact the SHA District 1 Office at 410-677-4000.