(Nov. 10, 2016) Those with a degree of familiarity with the stretch of Route 113 between Snow Hill and Langmaid Road will need to readjust the cruise control as the State Highway Administration has lowered the speed limit in the work area to 45 m.p.h.
Speeding fines are doubled in the reduced speed zone.
Robert Rager, the district community liaison for the SHA, said the reduced speed requirement would last until the dualization of this stretch of road is complete at the end of 2017.
The newly-expanded stretch of road is expected to open to traffic in early 2018.
Two phases of the decades-old dualization work still remain, with Phase 4 being the 4.3-mile stretch between Five Mile Branch Road in the north to Public Landing Road to the south. It is expected to be complete and open to traffic by the end of 2019.
The completion of Phase 4 signals the end of major expansion efforts on the road.
The dualization project contains a Phase 5, which is an overpass at the junction of Route 113 and Snow Hill Road without additional road construction. The completion of Phase 4 signals the end of major expansion efforts on the county’s major north-south highway.
During the offseason, according to information provided by the state, this section of road carries 9,250 — 13,000 vehicles daily, and a couple hundred more during the summer. By 2035, the state estimates traffic will increase significantly.
The cost to dualize the road has exceeded $200 million, with most of the money coming from the state and federal governments.
“Work zone speed reductions are fairly common where we expect significant work/lane closures on the existing road or a lot of construction vehicles entering/exiting the road during peak travel times or in areas with limited sight-distance,” Rager said. “Most of the work to date on US 113 has been clearing and grading — off the road with minimal impacts to traffic. As you well know the pipe crossings have been done under full closure and detour.”
The pipe crossing work was completed last month, but more crossings to replace aging drainage infrastructure will be necessary before the project is complete. No schedule for those closures has been released.
“As we move into succeeding work phases motorists may see an increase in construction vehicles entering/exiting the highway. They’ll also see more work being performed closer to the existing road and this can sometimes pose a distraction for drivers,” Rager said. “Posting a reduced speed limit reminds motorists that they’re in a work zone and changing conditions are to be expected. It can also help improve safety for motorists and workers alike – driving at or under the reduced speed limit increases the time available to react and decreases the stopping distance needed in an emergency.”
Speeding fines are doubled in the reduced speed zone.
Robert Rager, the district community liaison for the SHA, said the reduced speed requirement would last until the dualization of this stretch of road is complete at the end of 2017.
The newly-expanded stretch of road is expected to open to traffic in early 2018.
Two phases of the decades-old dualization work still remain, with Phase 4 being the 4.3-mile stretch between Five Mile Branch Road in the north to Public Landing Road to the south. It is expected to be complete and open to traffic by the end of 2019.
The completion of Phase 4 signals the end of major expansion efforts on the road.
The dualization project contains a Phase 5, which is an overpass at the junction of Route 113 and Snow Hill Road without additional road construction. The completion of Phase 4 signals the end of major expansion efforts on the county’s major north-south highway.
During the offseason, according to information provided by the state, this section of road carries 9,250 — 13,000 vehicles daily, and a couple hundred more during the summer. By 2035, the state estimates traffic will increase significantly.
The cost to dualize the road has exceeded $200 million, with most of the money coming from the state and federal governments.
“Work zone speed reductions are fairly common where we expect significant work/lane closures on the existing road or a lot of construction vehicles entering/exiting the road during peak travel times or in areas with limited sight-distance,” Rager said. “Most of the work to date on US 113 has been clearing and grading — off the road with minimal impacts to traffic. As you well know the pipe crossings have been done under full closure and detour.”
The pipe crossing work was completed last month, but more crossings to replace aging drainage infrastructure will be necessary before the project is complete. No schedule for those closures has been released.
“As we move into succeeding work phases motorists may see an increase in construction vehicles entering/exiting the highway. They’ll also see more work being performed closer to the existing road and this can sometimes pose a distraction for drivers,” Rager said. “Posting a reduced speed limit reminds motorists that they’re in a work zone and changing conditions are to be expected. It can also help improve safety for motorists and workers alike – driving at or under the reduced speed limit increases the time available to react and decreases the stopping distance needed in an emergency.”