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MDTA and State Highway Administration report progress on Bay Bridge, signage and Ocean City safety projects
Summary
MDTA and SHA officials told the Eastern Shore delegation Feb. 14 that Bay Bridge redecking is nearing completion, RedX signage and traffic notifications are being expanded, and SHA plans to advance Ocean City’s Maryland 90 and Coastal Highway safety projects if additional revenues are approved.
Maryland Transportation Authority and State Highway Administration officials provided project updates to the Eastern Shore delegation on Feb. 14, 2025, including progress on Bay Bridge redecking, new RedX lane signage, local interchange work in Cecil County, and pedestrian safety planning on Ocean City’s Coastal Highway (MD 528).
MDTA Executive Director Bruce Gartner said the Bay Bridge redecking is roughly 60% complete, with an on‑track completion expected this summer. Gartner said MDTA is recycling removed deck panels for an artificial reef program at Hackett Point and is preparing a second phase to consider additional reef locations. He also described public outreach for a multi‑tier Bay Crossing study and said MDTA is reviewing real‑time alert options and ground‑mounted RedX lane fine signage; overhead signs are expected to be installed around June.
Gartner briefed the delegation on the Belvedere interchange project in Cecil County, which began construction in early 2024 and remains scheduled through FY2026. He said Belvedere Road will be reduced to one lane for construction and that a short term complete closure for up to three months is planned for spring to install critical infrastructure, coordinated with the county. Gartner also said the Hayden Bridge painting project requires temporary lane restrictions and is expected to finish in spring 2026.
State Highway Administrator Will Pines described SHA priorities on the Eastern Shore: resurfacing, safety and multimodal projects. Pines said the governor’s proposed CTP would allow the Maryland 90 project (US 50 to MD 528) to proceed through NEPA and design so it can qualify for federal funding. He highlighted several local projects: a $12.8 million full replacement of the US 301 bridge over the Chester River (expected completion spring next year), a $16.7 million replacement of the US 13 Business bridge over the Wicomico River (target 2026), and multimodal work on Maryland 413 in Somerset County to finish a shared‑use path connecting Crisfield and Westover.
On Ocean City’s MD 528/Coastal Highway pedestrian safety project, Pines said the corridor has five times the statewide average of vulnerable‑user fatalities per mile and that SHA is evaluating a toolkit of proven safety countermeasures identified by Federal Highway (leading pedestrian intervals, pedestrian hybrid beacons, speed adjustments and other treatments) with community input from recent public workshops.
Why it matters: The updates include construction timing and traffic impacts that will directly affect commuters, freight operators and local residents. Delegates asked for follow up on closure timing and signage; MDTA and SHA said they will coordinate with county authorities and local police to provide real‑time information.
Ending: MDTA and SHA asked delegation members to continue sharing local operational concerns and said they will return with more detailed construction schedules and outreach plans for affected corridors.
