(June 16, 2014) – On Monday, June 23 the State Highway Administration (SHA) will begin alternating traffic with a new temporary traffic signal across the MD 313 (Millington Road) Bridge over the Chester River. One lane of the bridge will remain open in each direction through construction, which is expected to be complete early 2015, weather permitting.

Preliminary work on the $1.9 million deck replacement project began June 9. One of the two lanes on the MD 313 bridge will carry vehicles by alternating traffic with temporary camera controlled traffic signals on each side of the bridge. SHA traffic engineers anticipate the maximum wait for vehicles to cross the bridge from either side during one-lane operations will normally be five minutes, with shorter waits possible.  No detours will be established during the construction.

“The MD 313 Bridge serves as a vital link for motorists traveling between Queen Anne’s and Kent Counties,” said Melinda Peters, SHA Administrator. “The current bridge was built in 1960 and these improvements will extend its service life for an additional 30 to 40 years.”

The bridge is 150 feet in length. The project will replace the existing asphalt deck with concrete and includes new ADA compliant five-feet, eight-inch sidewalks on both sides.  The sidewalk improvements will extend 100 feet beyond the bridge on both sides to enhance pedestrian safety.  The MD 313 bridge is the primary pedestrian and motor vehicle gateway from downtown Millington across the river to the community’s Waterfront Park and Queen Anne’s County.

SHA’s contractor will work Mondays through Fridays from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The work schedule may be subject to change depending on weather and other factors that develop during the bridge deck replacement.  SHA awarded the contract to Mumford and Miller Concrete, Inc., of Middletown, Delaware.

This project was made possible with funding from the Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act of 2013, which maintains crucial system preservation investments and allows Maryland to activate long-term strategies to invest in Maryland’s transportation systems. By putting people back to work in the transportation industry with $4.4 billion in new investments in the next six years, Maryland is creating hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity and providing Marylanders with the transportation infrastructure necessary to grow and prosper for decades to come.

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.  Slow down and don’t follow too closely. Safer Driving.  Safer Work Zones. For Everyone!