Temporary Shift onto New Alignment Marks Homestretch Turn for Project to Dualize 3.75 Miles of US 113 in the Newark Area of Worcester County

(December 8, 2017) – December’s winds of change aren’t just bringing colder temperatures to Worcester County – they’re ushering in a new traffic pattern on US 113 (Worcester Highway) as the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) reaches a milestone in the highway reconstruction project.

Next week, scheduled for Tuesday, December 12, MDOT SHA will move all US 113 traffic onto a new alignment between Langmaid Road and Five Mile Branch Road just south of Newark. The shift will take place in several stages Tuesday – motorists should expect flagging operations and some delays throughout the day.  By the end of the day, all traffic will be in a temporary two-way pattern on the new northbound alignment.  This will allow crews to reconstruct the old US 113 roadway to serve as the southbound lanes of the new dual highway.

This work is part of SHA’s multi-phase project to widen all 37 miles of US 113 in Maryland.  The current phase (Phase 3), covering 3.75 miles from Five Mile Branch Road to Massey Branch, will be substantially complete by spring 2018. An average of 11,500 vehicles travel this section of US 113 each day; 20 percent of this volume is commercial trucking. SHA awarded a $32 million construction contract to Allan Myers of Fallston.

Phase 4, covering 4.3 miles from MD 365 (Public Landing Road) to Five Mile Branch Road will complete the dualization.  This project is part of Governor Larry Hogan’s $1.97 billion investment in roads and bridges.  The governor announced the start of Phase 4 construction last month.

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.

Maryland drivers can know before they go by visiting www.md511.org for live traffic updates, including construction delays and lane closures.