MDOT SHA SHIFTS TRAFFIC ON SALISBURY BYPASS

11-Bridges Rehabilitation On-Schedule; Shift South of US 50 Needed to Begin Work on Southbound Bridges over MD 350 and Parker Pond

Next Wednesday, August 2, the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) will shift US 13 (Salisbury Bypass) traffic from the southbound lanes to the northbound lanes between US 50 (Ocean Gateway) and the median crossover south of Parker Pond in Wicomico County. Crews recently completed work on the northbound bridges over Parker Pond and MD 350 (Mt. Hermon Road). With this traffic shift, crews will begin work on the southbound bridges at those locations. This project remains on-schedule for substantial completion by next summer, weather permitting

The traffic shift will take place early next Wednesday morning, weather permitting. Crews will close the southbound Salisbury Bypass to all traffic between US 50 and MD 12 (Snow Hill Road) beginning at 3 a.m. and complete the shift by 6 a.m. Southbound motorists can exit at US 50 Business heading west (toward downtown Salisbury); commercial truck drivers may choose to exit or wait in the closure until the shift is completed. All motorists should allow extra time for travel. SHA will use traditional and social media to alert the public as soon as the shift is completed. Northbound traffic will not be impacted by this closure.

In preparation for next week’s traffic shift, MDOT SHA eliminated the current bidirectional pattern between US 50 and Parker Pond and run one lane of traffic in each direction. This will give crews space to safely remove concrete barrier. No significant traffic impacts are expected with this work.

Bidirectional traffic patterns use median crossovers to put all traffic on one side of the Bypass, expediting bridge repairs and greatly improving safety by separating work zones from traffic. Following the first bidirectional shift last October, crews began overlaying center sections and replacing end sections of northbound Salisbury Bypass bridges over Parker Pond, MD 350, US 50/US 50 Business and MD 346 (Old Ocean City Road). The $24 million project also includes repairs to the bridges over Norfolk Southern Railroad and the ramp bridge from southbound US 13 to the eastbound Bypass.

A bidirectional pattern will return this fall north of US 50 for work on the southbound bridges over US 50 Business, MD 346 and Norfolk Southern Railroad. MDOT SHA is maintaining normal traffic flow in this area May-October to minimize public impacts during the busy summer travel season.

MDOT SHA’s contractor is Corman Construction of Annapolis Junction. For more information on all traffic patterns and work phases visit the Salisbury Bypass 11-bridges rehabilitation project

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. 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