BERLIN, Md. — Road construction at the intersection of U.S. 50 (Ocean Gateway) and MD 589 (Racetrack Road) in Worcester County is set to begin Saturday, Nov. 1, according to the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration.
The work will bring around-the-clock single-lane closures as crews prepare the area for a new commercial development. Construction is expected to continue through the spring of 2026, weather permitting.
The improvements are tied to the upcoming Coastal Square project — a new shopping center and apartment complex planned for the south side of U.S. 50. The project will create a four-way intersection by adding a fourth leg to the existing junction and removing the traffic signal at Brader Lane.
The work will bring around-the-clock single-lane closures as crews prepare the area for a new commercial development.
Additional upgrades will include widening and resurfacing both east- and westbound lanes of Route 50, installing new pavement markings, and improving stormwater systems to handle increased runoff from the new development.
Ben Campbell, who often uses the intersection to reach nearby stores like The Home Depot and Walmart, said he expects traffic to back up once construction starts. “I think it’s definitely going to back up traffic,” Campbell said. “If folks can work together in traffic, it’ll loosen it up some, so it’s not so tight and cramped.”
Campbell said that while new housing and shopping options may add to congestion, construction in the area is unavoidable. “They’re always building and reconstructing or tearing down around here,” he said. “That’s going to continue to go on. But one thing we can do is drive like sane people.”
MDOT said drivers should expect cones, flaggers, and arrow boards guiding traffic safely through the area. The work is being handled by Reynolds Excavating of Princess Anne and is expected to be completed by spring 2026, weather permitting.
