​Drivers Urged to Make Safety Their Priority this Summer 

(May 14, 2024) – The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration is ready to assist hundreds of thousands of travelers “Reach the Beach” this summer by improving the driving experience along state roads heading to the Eastern Shore. 

The State Highway Administration has improved the road surface on many miles of the state’s vast highway system since the end of last summer, including:  

To improve traffic flow and keep motorists safe, the State Highway Administration's Coordinated Highways Action Response Team (CHART) program will enhance patrols on the Eastern Shore beginning May 18 through early October. These enhanced patrols will help disabled vehicles, remove road debris, and assist with clearing crashes to keep lanes open and traffic moving. As part of the seasonal enhancement, the State Highway Administration's eastern shore maintenance shops will provide similar services along the US 50 corridor from Easton to Ocean City.  

The State Highway Administration is continuing the US 50/US 301 Ramp Management Project on the Broadneck Peninsula in Anne Arundel County to improve traffic flow and safety along the corridor. From May 17 through August 31, the on-ramp from Oceanic Drive (Exit 32) onto eastbound US 50/US 301 will be closed 10 a.m. Fridays to 6 p.m. Saturdays.   

During those periods, drivers wishing to access eastbound US 50/US 301 must enter from  Exit 29 (MD 179 at Busch’s Frontage Road) or Exit 30 (Whitehall Road). Drivers who use the service roads will need to travel back to one of these interchanges to access eastbound US 50/US 301. These efforts are part of ongoing evaluations to mitigate increased travel volumes in the Broadneck Peninsula during the summer travel season. 

Queen Anne’s County requested a similar ramp management project with assistance from the State Highway Administration which will occur in the US 50/301 Kent Island​ area. From Sunday, May 19, to Monday, September 2, on-ramps from MD 8 to westbound US 50/301 and Duke Street to westbound US 50/301 will be closed noon to 6 p.m. weekends – Saturdays, Sundays, and Monday holidays. 

Once you reach the beach or your Eastern Shore destination, make safety your number one priority. Each summer, the weekend population in Ocean City is nearly 300,000, making it the state’s second most populated municipality. Drivers should share the road with bicyclists, watch out for pedestrians and look twice for motorcyclists. 

The 2024 Ocean City Walk Smart, Drive Smart, Bike Smart campaign is underway. The campaign features the iconic “Cheswick the Crab” mascot and amplifies safety messages that heighten a commitment to the “four Es” – engineering, education, enforcement and emergency medical services – to save lives and prevent injuries on Coastal Highway and all shore roadways.  

The State Highway Administration encourages drivers to make sure vehicles are “road ready” to help reduce mechanical breakdowns. Check tires to ensure proper tread and inflation and check the cooling system for any defects. Also, make sure all vehicle lighting systems are operational.