OCEAN CITY, Md. — Millions of dollars from a federal grant will be used to implement new technology aimed at improving safety and reducing congestion on U.S. 50 (Ocean Gateway) on Maryland's Eastern Shore, the Maryland Department of Transportation announced.
The Advanced Transportation Technology and Innovation grant, worth $11.9 million, was awarded to the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration, enabling the department to deploy cutting-edge software, sensors, traffic cameras and message signs along 113 miles of US 50.
"Emerging technology is providing us with new tools to monitor, predict and respond to traffic congestion and safety concerns," said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. “This support from our federal partners will benefit residents of our Eastern Shore communities and the millions who visit this beautiful part of the state every year."
Smart technology supported by the grant will help improve safety, increase efficiency of freight delivery and enhance mobility in historically disadvantaged and underserved Eastern Shore communities along the US 50 corridor. Once deployed, the hardware and software will monitor traffic queues in real-time, predict flow and adapt signal timing to help provide gaps, allowing local traffic on side streets to enter and exit US 50 more safely and efficiently.
The grant also supports State Highway Administration deployment of warning and travel information signs and additional live traffic cameras along the corridor. Installation is expected to begin late 2026.
The State Highway Administration anticipates that once the new technology is deployed, it will save drivers along the busy corridor nearly 2.5 million hours.
"This grant will allow us to harness innovative technologies that will help address severe traffic congestion along this critical corridor," said State Highway Administrator Tim Smith. "With the deployment of these technologies, we will be able to better serve our customers and connect people with life’s opportunities.”
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