OCEAN PINES – Planning is underway for a roundabout at the north gate of Ocean Pines.
State Highway Administration (SHA) officials are working on plans for a four-legged roundabout to replace the existing traffic signal at the intersection of Ocean Parkway and Route 589. The change is expected to better accommodate the heavy volume of traffic accessing Ocean Pines via the north gate.
“The average traffic volume is approximately 10,000 vehicles daily,” SHA spokesman Charlie Gischlar said. “Westbound Ocean Parkway traffic turning left onto southbound MD 589 experience significant delays and backups waiting to exit, especially in the summer tourist season. A 4-legged roundabout is being proposed to replace the existing traffic signal.”
He said the project was in the concept phase at this point.
“Concept plans are in the review and approval stage,” he said. “We anticipate completing all engineering phases by September 2020.”
He added, however, that construction funding would not be available next year. Gischlar said that once engineering was done SHA would have to secure funding, which “would likely be a few years out.”
