(June 1, 2015) – As part of its commitment to ensuring motorist and worker safety, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) is temporarily reducing the speed limit through five work zones on MD 2 (Solomons Island Road) in southern Anne Arundel and northern Calvert counties.

SHA will change the posted speed limit from 50 mph to 40 mph in the following locations:

• MD 2 in Anne Arundel County from  approximately one mile north of Harwood Drive to Solitude Court, a distance of 4.25 miles encompassing work zones at Harwood Drive, Owensville-Sudley Road and MD 255 (Owensville Road);

• MD 2 in Anne Arundel County from one-half mile north of MD 258 (Bay Front Road) to one-quarter mile south of MD 256 (Deale Road), a distance of 1.15 miles;

• MD 2 in Calvert County from approximately one mile north of Mt. Harmony Road to one mile south of Mt. Harmony Road, a distance of 1.75 miles.

The new speed limits apply to all traffic 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and will remain in effect through the end of construction, expected mid-to-late 2016.  Crews will install the 40 mph speed limit signs early June and it will immediately go into effect.

“The temporary speed limit reductions will improve safety for the wide variety of people using MD 2  on a daily basis - commuters, area residents, farmers, construction workers, delivery drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, including the many children aboard school buses,” explained SHA District Engineer Lee Starkloff.  “During construction, lane shifts or restrictions often impact traffic and increase travel time. We’re asking all motorists to slow down, be patient and stay alert for turning vehicles and changing conditions in these areas.”

The five construction projects are creating dedicated left turn lanes and other safety improvements through the corridor.  By removing turning vehicles from the main travel lanes, SHA will enhance safety and reduce rear-end collisions.

Average daily traffic on this 14-mile stretch of MD 2 nearly doubles from 10,000 vehicles per day near Mt. Harmony Road to 20,000 north of Harwood Drive.

In four out of five work zone-related crashes, it is the driver or passenger who is injured or killed.  While SHA and its transportation partners work hard to keep traffic safely moving in work zones, please partner with us because work zone safety is everyone’s business – slow down and stay alert. Safer driving. Safer work zones. For everyone.