Drivers crossing the Patuxent River between Calvert and St. Mary’s counties should expect delays Sunday morning. State highway crews will close one of the two lanes on the MD 4 (Governor Thomas Johnson) Bridge for routine maintenance.
The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration said the work begins at 6 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 4. The closed lane will reopen to traffic no later than 2 p.m. that afternoon, weather permitting.
Crews will replace reflectors and clean the bridge’s drainage system and deck, the driving surface. Flaggers will guide traffic through the work zone using the single open lane. Portable variable message signs will warn drivers of the work ahead.
The bridge is a two-lane span of about 1.4 miles at the Calvert County/St. Mary’s County line. It opened to traffic in December 1977 and is the main link between Solomons and Lexington Park. More than 30,000 drivers a day cross it, so even a short single-lane closure can back up traffic on both approaches. Drivers who can’t avoid the morning window can check real-time conditions on MD 511 before heading out. The nearest other Patuxent crossing is the MD 231 bridge at Benedict, a drive of 25 to 30 miles north.
The State Highway Administration asked drivers to slow down in the work zone, stay alert, avoid distractions, and obey all posted speed limits. The agency’s Serious About Safety campaign focuses on protecting both drivers and road crews. Motorists who need roadside help can dial #77 from a mobile phone.
Questions about the work can go to the State Highway Administration’s District 5 office at 410-841-1000 or toll-free at 1-800-331-5603. A full list of major State Highway Administration projects, news, and travel information is on roads.maryland.gov.
For more on recent changes for Maryland drivers, see the Chronicle’s rundown of new Maryland laws that took effect Oct. 1, and follow ongoing Southern Maryland traffic coverage.
