(May 9, 2016) – Construction of the new MD 331 (D​over Bridge Road) bridge over Choptank River remains on schedule as crews continue to place beams and prepare the roadway bridge approaches.  The next major fill operation or “lift” for the east side roadway begins this Wednesday, May 11 (weather permitting) and will continue for several weeks as crews raise the grade five feet across much of the nearly 40,000 square-foot area.

To improve safety and expedite the fill operation, SHA will close one lane of MD 331 for up to 10 hours each day, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday.  A flagging operation will be in place to guide motorists through the work zone.  Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead - allow extra travel time or travel outside the lane closure hours.  Be alert for construction vehicles entering and exiting the roadway.

This is the third of five lifts planned for this area.  Each lift is followed by a quarantine period of at least 150 days as engineers monitor settling and movement of the material.  These lifts are necessary to compact subsoils in the marshy area and provide a stable road base for the new MD 331 bridge approaches.

This work is part of SHA’s commitment to replace the narrow swing span (movable) bridge with a fixed structure wide enough to accommodate bicycles and pedestrians.  SHA awarded a $48 million construction contract to McLean Contracting of Glen Burnie.  An average of 12,000 vehicles travel this stretch of MD 331 each day, and Dover Bridge serves as a vital commuter and emergency services link between Caroline and Talbot counties.  Project completion is estimated at late 2018.

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. Work Zone Safety is in Your Hands.

A complete listing of current roadway projects is included in e-Road Ready 2016, the online brochure. Maryland drivers can also know before they go by calling 511 or visiting www.md511.org for live traffic updates, including construction delays and lane closures.