Gov. Larry Hogan announced a $23.8 million investment to rehabilitate 11 bridges between U.S. 13 Business and Parker Pond, south of U.S. 50.

Gov. Larry Hogan announced a $23.8 million investment to rehabilitate 11 bridges between U.S. 13 Business and Parker Pond, south of U.S. 50. Once complete, these projects will improve safety, increase the life span of the bridges and allow heavy loads to travel on the eastern half of the Salisbury Bypass (U.S. 13) in Wicomico County.

“The route is a critical link for people travelling within and through Wicomico County,” said Hogan. “Completion of this project will not only open the bypass for area commerce, but it will also positively impact local residents, tourists, and businesses for years to come.”

Every day, 36,225 drivers travel the Salisbury Bypass, with traffic volumes increasing by 15 percent during the summer months. Safety improvements include: replacing the concrete bridge deck approaches with steel supports; installing new, higher barriers; and removing and replacing the top layer of the concrete bridge decks with latex concrete. Upgrading approach spans at each bridge will allow for large commercial vehicles currently restricted from traveling on the eastern half of the Salisbury Bypass to have unimpeded travel along the entire route, opening the bypass for area commerce.

The 11 bridges were built between 1972 and 1975 and include one ramp bridge from U.S. 13 Business to the Salisbury Bypass and two bridges in five locations along the Salisbury Bypass (northbound and southbound) over:

• the Norfolk Southern Railroad line

• MD 346 (Old Ocean City Road)

• U.S. 50

• MD 350 (Mount Hermon Road)

• Parker Pond

Construction will begin this fall and the bridges will open in spring 2018. Work on the bridges north of U.S. 50 will not take place during the summer months to avoid increasing delays. One lane in each direction of the bridge and access to ramp movements at U.S. 50 will be maintained during construction.

The funding is part of Hogan's $1.97 billion investment in highway and bridge improvements announced last June. This announcement demonstrates his commitment to safety and infrastructure improvements in every jurisdiction in the state and is just part of the $62.2 million in transportation investments in Wicomico County over six years, including: $58.2 million for highways; $3.7 million for Shore Transit (FY 2016); $80,300 in grants for highway safety and other programs (FY 2016); and $227,600 in aviation grants for Salisbury-Ocean City: Wicomico Regional Airport (FY 2016).

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