More Route 113 Work Included In Funding Package

BERLIN — The ongoing dualization of Route 113 between Snow Hill and Berlin got a fiscal shot in the arm this month when state officials announced $11 million has been dedicated to the next phase.
Gov. Martin O’Malley, along with Sen. Richard Colburn and Delegate Norm Conway, late last week announced nearly $160 million in new investments for five highway projects on the Eastern Shore including $11 million for the next phase of the ongoing dualization of Route 113 through the center of Worcester County. The $11 million is dedicated to funding right-of-way acquisition for the third phase of the Route 113 project from Massey Branch to Five-Mile Branch just south of Berlin. However, no construction funding has been made available for the next phase of the project.
The widening and dualization of Route 113 began many years ago with the section from the Delaware line to Berlin completed first. In the years since, the State Highway Administration (SHA) has continued the project in several phases from north of Snow Hill toward Berlin. The third phase will include the eventual dualization of the section from Massey Branch to Five-Mile Branch.
The $160 million in highway project investments announced last week were made possible through the Transportation Act of 2013, introduced by O’Malley and passed by the General Assembly earlier this year. The funding will be spread over five major projects across the Eastern Shore including the next phase of the Route 113 project.
“Maryland is delivering for the Eastern Shore,” said O’Malley. “By investing in these projects, we improve safety, relieve congestion and make Maryland an even more attractive place for companies to invest. Together, with the support of our local partners, we made the better choices to invest in the future of Maryland’s transportation network, allowing us to create more than 57,200 jobs for our hardworking families and rebuild our state’s infrastructure.
Conway praised the continued investment in the Route 113 project, which will eventually be completed from Snow Hill to Delaware.
“I’m very happy to see such strong transportation investments by the O’Malley-Brown administration on the Eastern Shore in general, and in Worcester County in particular,” he said. “Working to make Route 113 safe for our families has been a priority of mine and many others for a long time.”