(May 19, 2011) – This weekend the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) will close a section of MD 12 (Snow Hill Road) in Snow Hill.  Starting at 8 p.m. Friday May 20, traffic will be directed to nearby routes and the bridge will remain closed through 12:00 p.m. Sunday, May 22.  This closure will allow crews to paint the ends of the MD 12 drawbridge over Pocomoke River.

Motorists headed southbound on MD 12 into Snow Hill will turn left on MD 354 (Whiton Road), right on Porters Crossing Road and right on US 113 South (Worcester Highway).  Northbound MD 12 traffic will use US 113 Business South (Market Street) north to MD 113 North, turn left on Porters Crossing Road, then left on MD 354 to MD 12 North.

If needed, SHA may continue overnight closures from Sunday, May 22 through Friday, May 27 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. each day.  Motorists would follow the same detour during the overnight closures.  During the day, MD 12 will remain open to traffic and flagpersons will guide motorists through the work zone.  SHA expects this bridge painting project to be complete no later than Friday, May 27, weather permitting.

The MD 12 bridge over Pocomoke River is a single-leaf bascule drawspan originally constructed in 1932.  The bridge carries an average of 5,700 vehicles per day.  It is one of seven bridges in Wicomico and Worcester counties being cleaned and repainted under a $1.5 million contract with Orfanos Contractors of Baltimore.

Construction season is here with numerous active work zone sites that include major construction projects taking months to complete and mobile operations taking only minutes.  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 - look for reduced speed limits, narrow driving lanes and highway workers.  Slow down and don't follow too closely.  Safer Driving. Safer Work Zones.  For everyone.

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