Maryland Route 90
Encyclopedia
Maryland Route 90 is a state highway
in the U.S. state
of Maryland
. Known as the Ocean City Expressway, the state highway runs 11.83 miles (19 km) from U.S. Route 50
(US 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 northern part of the resort, and thus sees heavy seasonal traffic. Due to its importance as an access point and as an evacuation route
, the state highway is a part of the National Highway System
. MD 90 was constructed from Ocean City starting in 1970. The state highway was opened west to MD 589
in 1972 and to US 113
in 1975. MD 90 was completed west to US 50 in 1976.
(Old Ocean City Boulevard) with no access, the state highway crosses over Church Branch. MD 90 crosses over the Snow Hill Line of the Maryland and Delaware Railroad
before reaching a partial cloverleaf interchange with US 113
(Worcester Highway). After passing over MD 575
(Worcester Highway), the old alignment of US 113, with no access, the state highway becomes divided with a narrow guardrail median barrier. MD 90 encounters a diamond interchange
with MD 589 (Racetrack Road) in Ocean Pines
and passes over Ocean Parkway within that community. The median barrier ends and the state highway becomes an undivided highway again immediately before crossing the St. Martin River on a long bridge. A median returns right after the bridge ends at Isle of Wight
, where MD 90 has an at-grade signalized intersection with St. Martins Neck Road and the entrance to Isle of Wight Nature Park. MD 90 becomes undivided again for the Assawoman Bay Bridge
over Assawoman Bay
. After that bridge, the speed limit drops to 40 mph (64.4 km/h) and the state highway expands to four lanes with a Jersey barrier
for a short distance before its terminal intersection with MD 528 (Coastal Highway) at 62nd Street in Ocean City.
.
{| class=wikitable
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|Whaleyville
|0.00
|, Bay Bridge
|Western terminus; eastbound exit and westbound entrance from US 50
|-
|Friendship
|4.03
|, Dover
|Partial cloverleaf interchange
|-
|Ocean Pines
|6.01
|
|Diamond interchange
|-
|colspan=4 align=center|Bridge over St. Martin River
|-
|
|9.47
|St. Martins Neck Road north – Bishopville
|At-grade signalized intersection
|-
|colspan=4 align=center|Assawoman Bay Bridge
over Assawoman Bay
|-
|Ocean City
|11.83
| / 62nd Street east
|Eastern terminus; at-grade signalized intersection
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in the U.S. state
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...
. Known as the Ocean City Expressway, the state highway runs 11.83 miles (19 km) from 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...
(US 50) near Whaleyville
Whaleyville, Maryland
Whaleyville is a census-designated place in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. The population was 124 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Whaleyville is located at ....
to MD 528
Maryland Route 528
Maryland Route 528 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known for most of its length as Coastal Highway, the state highway runs from the southern terminus of its companion route, unsigned Maryland Route 378, in downtown Ocean City north to the Delaware state line at the northern...
in Ocean City
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...
. MD 90 is a two-lane expressway that provides one of the main access routes to Ocean City, especially the northern part of the resort, and thus sees heavy seasonal traffic. Due to its importance as an access point and as an evacuation route
Hurricane evacuation route
A hurricane evacuation route is a highway in the United States that is a specified route for hurricane evacuation.Along the Gulf Coast, hurricane evacuation routes lead north and west for up to hundreds of miles to the safest major city. Along the Atlantic Coast, routes lead west. They are marked...
, the state highway is a part of the National Highway System
National Highway System (United States)
The National Highway System is a network of strategic highways within the United States, including the Interstate Highway System and other roads serving major airports, ports, rail or truck terminals, railway stations, pipeline terminals and other strategic transport facilities.Individual states...
. MD 90 was constructed from Ocean City starting in 1970. The state highway was opened west to MD 589
Maryland Route 589
Maryland Route 589 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known as Racetrack Road, the state highway runs from U.S. Route 50 in Grays Corner north to US 113 and MD 575 in Showell. MD 589 provides access to the planned community of Ocean Pines and harness racing venue Ocean Downs,...
in 1972 and to US 113
U.S. Route 113
U.S. Route 113 is a spur of US 13 in the U.S. states of Maryland and Delaware. The U.S. Highway runs from US 13 in Pocomoke City, Maryland north to Delaware Route 1 in Milford, Delaware...
in 1975. MD 90 was completed west to US 50 in 1976.
Route description
MD 90 begins at a partial directional interchange with US 50 (Ocean Gateway) east of Whaleyville. There is no access between MD 90 east and US 50 east. MD 90 heads east as a two-lane undivided freeway with a speed limit of 55 mph (88.5 km/h) and rumble strips within the painted median. Headlight use is required at all times. After passing under MD 346Maryland Route 346
Maryland Route 346 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. The state highway runs from U.S. Route 50 Business in Salisbury east to US 50 in Berlin...
(Old Ocean City Boulevard) with no access, the state highway crosses over Church Branch. MD 90 crosses over the Snow Hill Line of the Maryland and Delaware Railroad
Maryland and Delaware Railroad
The Maryland and Delaware Railroad Company is a Class III short-line railroad, formed in 1977 to operate several branch lines of the former Penn Central Railroad in both Maryland and Delaware. These branches were omitted from the system plan for Conrail in 1976 and would have been discontinued...
before reaching a partial cloverleaf interchange with US 113
U.S. Route 113
U.S. Route 113 is a spur of US 13 in the U.S. states of Maryland and Delaware. The U.S. Highway runs from US 13 in Pocomoke City, Maryland north to Delaware Route 1 in Milford, Delaware...
(Worcester Highway). After passing over MD 575
Maryland Route 575
Maryland Route 575 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Known as Worcester Highway, the state highway runs from U.S. Route 113 in Friendship north to MD 589 and US 113 in Showell. MD 575 is the old alignment of US 113 in northern Worcester County...
(Worcester Highway), the old alignment of US 113, with no access, the state highway becomes divided with a narrow guardrail median barrier. MD 90 encounters a diamond interchange
Diamond interchange
A diamond interchange is a common type of road junction, used where a freeway crosses a minor road. The freeway itself is grade-separated from the minor road, one crossing the other over a bridge...
with MD 589 (Racetrack Road) in Ocean Pines
Ocean Pines, Maryland
Ocean Pines is a census-designated place in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. The population was 11,710 at the 2010 census. It is the principal of and is included in the Ocean Pines, Maryland Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Salisbury-Ocean Pines, Maryland Combined...
and passes over Ocean Parkway within that community. The median barrier ends and the state highway becomes an undivided highway again immediately before crossing the St. Martin River on a long bridge. A median returns right after the bridge ends at Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight (Maryland)
Isle of Wight is an island just west of Ocean City in Maryland. It is designated by the state of Maryland as a Wildlife Management Area.- External links :*- References :...
, where MD 90 has an at-grade signalized intersection with St. Martins Neck Road and the entrance to Isle of Wight Nature Park. MD 90 becomes undivided again for the Assawoman Bay Bridge
Assawoman Bay Bridge
The Assawoman Bay Bridge crosses the Assawoman Bay in Ocean City, Maryland. The bridge carries Maryland Route 90, a freeway into northern Ocean City. The bridge consists of two lanes and is undivided, but is heavily travelled; as such, in the summertime, it is usually congested with traffic...
over Assawoman Bay
Assawoman Bay
Assawoman Bay is a lagoon that is located between Ocean City, Maryland and mainland Delmarva. The bay is located on the northern end of the city, the bay on the southern end is called the Isle of Wight Bay...
. After that bridge, the speed limit drops to 40 mph (64.4 km/h) and the state highway expands to four lanes with a Jersey barrier
Jersey barrier
A Jersey barrier or Jersey wall is a modular concrete barrier employed to separate lanes of traffic. It is designed to both minimize vehicle damage in cases of incidental contact while still preventing crossover in the case of head-on accidents....
for a short distance before its terminal intersection with MD 528 (Coastal Highway) at 62nd Street in Ocean City.
History
Construction on MD 90 began in 1970 with the construction of the bridges over the St. Martin River and Assawoman Bay, which were completed in 1970 and 1971, respectively. The state highway was completed and opened between MD 528 and MD 589 in 1972. Construction west to US 113 commenced in 1973 and west to US 50 in 1974. MD 90 was extended west to US 113, which at the time followed today's MD 575, in 1975. The state highway was completed when the highway opened between US 50 and US 113 in 1976. MD 90's present interchange with US 113 was constructed in 1976. However, the interchange remained unused until US 113 was relocated as a four-lane divided highway from Berlin north past MD 90 in 2000. The interchange ramp with MD 575 was closed and removed shortly after the new interchange opened.Future
Mayor Rick Meehan of Ocean City is currently pushing for dualization of the MD 90 bridge, stating that it "is the quicker way in and out of town, especially if you look at all the development that has taken place along the Route 50 corridor." He also stated that dualization is good for the route for evacuation purposes.Junction list
The entire route is in Worcester CountyWorcester 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:...
.
{| class=wikitable
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|Whaleyville
Whaleyville, Maryland
Whaleyville is a census-designated place in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. The population was 124 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Whaleyville is located at ....
|0.00
|, Bay Bridge
Chesapeake Bay Bridge
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge is a major dual-span bridge in the U.S. state of Maryland. Spanning the Chesapeake Bay, it connects the state's rural Eastern Shore region with the more urban Western Shore. The original span opened in 1952 and, at the time, with a length of , it was the world's longest...
|Western terminus; eastbound exit and westbound entrance from US 50
|-
|Friendship
|4.03
|, Dover
Dover, Delaware
The city of Dover is the capital and second largest city in the U.S. state of Delaware. It is also the county seat of Kent County, and the principal city of the Dover, Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Kent County. It is located on the St. Jones River in the Delaware...
|Partial cloverleaf interchange
|-
|Ocean Pines
Ocean Pines, Maryland
Ocean Pines is a census-designated place in Worcester County, Maryland, United States. The population was 11,710 at the 2010 census. It is the principal of and is included in the Ocean Pines, Maryland Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Salisbury-Ocean Pines, Maryland Combined...
|6.01
|
|Diamond interchange
|-
|colspan=4 align=center|Bridge over St. Martin River
|-
|
|9.47
|St. Martins Neck Road north – Bishopville
Bishopville, Maryland
Bishopville is a small unincorporated community 10 miles north of Berlin in Worcester County, Maryland, located at . The community is just south of the Delaware state line....
|At-grade signalized intersection
|-
|colspan=4 align=center|Assawoman Bay Bridge
Assawoman Bay Bridge
The Assawoman Bay Bridge crosses the Assawoman Bay in Ocean City, Maryland. The bridge carries Maryland Route 90, a freeway into northern Ocean City. The bridge consists of two lanes and is undivided, but is heavily travelled; as such, in the summertime, it is usually congested with traffic...
over Assawoman Bay
Assawoman Bay
Assawoman Bay is a lagoon that is located between Ocean City, Maryland and mainland Delmarva. The bay is located on the northern end of the city, the bay on the southern end is called the Isle of Wight Bay...
|-
|Ocean City
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...
|11.83
| / 62nd Street east
|Eastern terminus; at-grade signalized intersection