(September 9, 2015) – Construction of a temporary road adjacent to westbound MD 331 (Dover Road) is yet another sign of good progress on the Dover Bridge replacement project. To help keep things moving along safely for everyone the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) is asking motorists to pay particular attention to an upcoming traffic shift.
Beginning Monday, September 14, SHA will shift traffic onto the 1,700 foot parallel road to allow for construction of a wall and other improvements on the north (Talbot County) side of the bridge. This new traffic pattern will remain in place through project completion in 2019. Final preparations for this shift are weather-dependent, and paving crews are permitted to work this Saturday, September 12 under a single lane flagging operation from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
While traffic shifts are designed and implemented according to current safety standards, SHA is reminding the public that safety is everyone’s responsibility and motorists must do their part – reduce speeds through the work zone and be alert for changing conditions such as construction vehicles entering the roadway.
“MD 331 is a daily commuter route for thousands of motorists and truck drivers and it’s easy to get comfortable on such a long, straight road,” explains District Engineer Greg Holsey, adding, “This traffic shift is close to the existing bridge so it requires a high degree of attention from motorists. Slow down as soon as you enter the work zone – the shift is near the middle of the construction area so motorists who reduce speed early should be well-prepared for the change.”
Construction of a new MD 331 bridge over the Choptank River is a top priority for SHA and a vital project for the eastern shore. This project will replace the existing swing span movable bridge, constructed in 1932, with a 2,020-foot long fixed structure featuring wide shoulders and 50-foot clearance over the waterway. SHA awarded a $48 million construction contract to McLean Contracting of Glen Burnie. An average of 12,000 vehicles travel this section of MD 331 each day.
(SHA Photo: Construction on the new MD 331 (Dover Bridge.)
In four out of five work zone-related crashes, it is the driver or passenger who is injured or killed. In 2014, nine people lost their lives in Maryland work zone crashes, including four highway workers. While SHA and its transportation partners work hard to keep traffic safely moving in work zones, please partner with us because work zone safety is everyone’s business – slow down and stay alert. Safer driving. Safer work zones. For everyone.
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