State Highway Administration engineers have begun a nearly two-year project to rehabilitate 11 bridges on the Salisbury Bypass.

The bridges, built between 1972 and 1975,are at these six locations along the northeastern section of the Route 50 Bypass between the Route 50 Business and Route 13 Business interchanges:

• One ramp bridge from Route 13 Business to the Salisbury Bypass.
• Two bridges over the Norfolk Southern Railroad line.
• Two bridges over Old Ocean City Road.
• Two bridges over Route 50/Route 50 Business.
• Two bridges over Mount Hermon Road.
• Two bridges over Parker Pond.

Gov. Larry Hogan announced $23.8 million in funding to repair the structurally deficient bridges this spring.

To help ensure the safety of workers and motorists during structural repairs, SHA will close one side of the bypass and detour traffic around the work area across the median and both directions of traffic will share the roadway. Speeds through the work zone will be reduced from 65 to 55 mph.

Crews will place concrete barrier between the eastbound and westbound traffic to allow bidirectional traffic flow (one lane each direction).  When work is completed on one side of the bypass, traffic will be shifted to allow work on the other side.  Drivers traveling through the work zone will need to slow down, remain alert and follow the signs.

Motorists should expect single-lane closures during August and September for construction of the median crossovers, with bidirectional traffic beginning mid-fall.  All work will be completed by summer 2018.

Work includes steel and concrete repairs and bridge deck (driving surface) patching and resurfacing.  This work will extend bridge service life by several decades.  Many of these bridges will be painted under a separate contract when the rehabilitation work is completed.

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.