Motorists Should Expect Single-Lane Closures and Plan Extra Travel Time When Going to Assateague Island
(December 29, 2022) – The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration will perform preventative maintenance work on the
Verrazano Bridge over Sinepuxent Bay, MD 611 (Stephen Decatur Highway) and the parallel pedestrian bridge in Worcester County from Wednesday, January 4, to Wednesday, January 11, weather permitting.
Work is expected to take place 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. MDOT SHA will close one lane on the bridge to ensure safety for motorists and workers, and a flagging operation will be in place to guide motorists safely through the work zone. The work includes divers placing grout and securing concrete bags underwater at the base of the bridge to create a protection mat to stabilize sand around the piers.
MD 611 (Stephen Decatur Highway) Verrazano Bridge. MDOT SHA photo
The Verrazano Bridge provides access to Assateague State Park and Assateague Island National Seashore. Sinepuxent Bay is a navigable inland waterway connecting Chincoteague Bay with Ocean City Inlet. More than 5,000 vehicles use the bridge each year, with the greatest volumes during peak summer weekends.
Maryland’s Move Over Law requires motorists to make a lane change or slow down when approaching any stopped, standing or parked vehicle displaying hazard warning lights, road flares or other caution signals. The expanded law is in place to protect emergency responders and motorists who encounter a roadside emergency.
Motorists in need may dial #77 on their mobile device for roadside assistance.
For a list of all major MDOT SHA projects, go to
Project Portal. Visit our homepage at
roads.maryland.gov. For a look at real-time traffic conditions, go to
md511.maryland.gov.
Editor’s Note
From intersection improvements to widening and new interchange construction, MDOT SHA is investing in projects to enhance the commute and daily travel for millions of Marylanders. MDOT SHA maintains more than 2,500 bridges and 17,000 miles of non-toll state roads – the interstate, US and state numbered routes in Maryland’s 23 counties.