Vehicular Traffic to be Temporarily Detoured to MD 90 (63rd Street Bridge) Beginning January 17th           
          
(January 14, 2008) - The Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) will close the US 50 (Harry W. Kelly Bridge) into Ocean City to traffic on Thursday, January 17. Work is expected to last up to 35 days, though with good weather, the goal is to open the US 50 Bridge prior to February 15th.           
          
The repairs will require closing the US 50 Ocean City Bridge to vehicular traffic for up to 35 days and to marine traffic and pedestrians for up to 45 days. The marine closure applies only to vessels with a vertical clearance greater than 15 feet.          
          
The closure of the US 50 bridge is necessary to replace the existing bascule span grid decking, sidewalk grid decking and purlins (small beams that support the grid deck) with galvanized decking, which prevents corrosion of the bridge’s steel. SHA awarded the $1.2 million project to Covington Machine and Welding Inc. of Annapolis.           
          
Static signs, along with VMS (Variable Message Sign) will be displayed along US 50 from the Bay Bridge to Ocean City at key locations advising motorists to use MD 90 to access Ocean City.           
          
Motorists heading east along US 50 toward Ocean City may use MD 90 ten miles east of Ocean City or continue along US 50 to MD 589, which also connects with MD 90. Motorists in Ocean City wanting to access US 50 will be directed along MD 528 (Coastal Highway) to the MD 90 Bridge to MD 589 and back to US 50.          
          
On the morning of the closure, signal technicians will monitor traffic signals along MD 90 entering Ocean City to insure adequate timing for the anticipated volume of traffic.          
          
SHA thanks motorists for their patience during construction and reminds them to buckle up, and drive with courtesy and caution, particularly through the work zone.           
          
          
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