Harry W. Kelly Memorial Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Harry W. Kelley Memorial Bridge is a bridge in the U.S. state
of Maryland
. It carries 4 lanes of U.S. Route 50
, plus two sidewalks, across Sinepuxent Bay
, connecting the downtown area of Ocean City, Maryland
to the mainland of Worcester County, Maryland
within West Ocean City
, and is mere feet from the national eastern terminus of said route. It is one of four entrances to the resort town, and the southernmost of them all; the others are Maryland Route 90
, Delaware Route 54, and Delaware Route 1. The bridge features a drawbridge
span near the Ocean City end. The bridge is named for Harry W. Kelley, a former mayor of Ocean City.
The current bridge in this location, built in 1942, replaces an earlier bridge that was slightly downstream of the current site, which used what is now Maryland Route 707
(Old Bridge Road) to cross the Sinepuxent Bay and connect to downtown Ocean City as Worcester Street. At the time of its construction, the bridge carried U.S. Route 213; it was changed to its current number in 1948 when the extension of US 50 replaced US 213 south of Queen Anne's County. Currently the bridge is a busy center of activity in the city, and is utilized by many fishermen, joggers, and cyclists. The bridge is the target of much discussion due to its age and structural issues, as well as its antiquated design.
In August 2010, the Maryland State Highway Administration
decided to construct a new drawbridge to replace the current structure. The new drawbridge was selected over a higher fixed span, which would have cost more and have displaced more properties. The bridge is not expected to be constructed until at least 2035, with $300 million in funding for planning of the bridge. When the new bridge is complete, the existing structure is planned to be turned into a fishing pier with the central part of the bridge removed.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. It carries 4 lanes of U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 50 in Maryland
U.S. Route 50 is a major east–west route of the U.S. Highway system, stretching just over from Ocean City, Maryland on the Atlantic Ocean to West Sacramento, California. In the U.S. state of Maryland, US 50 exists in two sections. The longer of these serves as a major route connecting...
, plus two sidewalks, across Sinepuxent Bay
Sinepuxent Bay
Sinepuxent Bay is an inland waterway which connects Chincoteague Bay to the Ocean City Inlet. It separates Sinepuxent Neck, in Worcester County, Maryland, from Assateague Island, and is crossed by the Verrazano Bridge on Maryland State Highway 611 Sinepuxent Bay is an inland waterway which connects...
, connecting the downtown area of Ocean City, Maryland
Ocean City, Maryland
Ocean City, sometimes known as OC, or OCMD, is an Atlantic Ocean resort town in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. Ocean City is widely known in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States and is a frequent destination for vacationers in that area...
to the mainland of Worcester County, Maryland
Worcester County, Maryland
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*82.0% White*13.6% Black*0.3% Native American*1.1% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.7% Two or more races*1.3% Other races*3.2% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
within West Ocean City
West Ocean City, Maryland
West Ocean City is a census-designated place in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. The population was 3,311 at the 2000 census.-Geography:West Ocean City is located at ....
, and is mere feet from the national eastern terminus of said route. It is one of four entrances to the resort town, and the southernmost of them all; the others are Maryland Route 90
Maryland Route 90
Maryland Route 90 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known as the Ocean City Expressway, the state highway runs from U.S. Route 50 near Whaleyville to MD 528 in Ocean City. MD 90 is a two-lane expressway that provides one of the main access routes to Ocean City, especially the...
, Delaware Route 54, and Delaware Route 1. The bridge features a drawbridge
Bascule bridge
A bascule bridge is a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances the span, or "leaf," throughout the entire upward swing in providing clearance for boat traffic....
span near the Ocean City end. The bridge is named for Harry W. Kelley, a former mayor of Ocean City.
The current bridge in this location, built in 1942, replaces an earlier bridge that was slightly downstream of the current site, which used what is now Maryland Route 707
Maryland Route 707
Maryland Route 707 is a collection of state highways in the Maryland Route 707 is a collection of [[state highway|state highways]] in the...
(Old Bridge Road) to cross the Sinepuxent Bay and connect to downtown Ocean City as Worcester Street. At the time of its construction, the bridge carried U.S. Route 213; it was changed to its current number in 1948 when the extension of US 50 replaced US 213 south of Queen Anne's County. Currently the bridge is a busy center of activity in the city, and is utilized by many fishermen, joggers, and cyclists. The bridge is the target of much discussion due to its age and structural issues, as well as its antiquated design.
In August 2010, the Maryland State Highway Administration
Maryland State Highway Administration
The Maryland State Highway Administration is the state agency responsible for maintaining Maryland numbered highways outside of Baltimore City...
decided to construct a new drawbridge to replace the current structure. The new drawbridge was selected over a higher fixed span, which would have cost more and have displaced more properties. The bridge is not expected to be constructed until at least 2035, with $300 million in funding for planning of the bridge. When the new bridge is complete, the existing structure is planned to be turned into a fishing pier with the central part of the bridge removed.
External links
- http://www.lat-long.com/Latitude-Longitude-1668906-Maryland-Harry_W_Kelly_Memorial_Bridge.html
- http://mdarchives.us/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/bridges.html