08/10/2026
Arcade-goers! Starting in September and running for about two months, the drawbridge will be closed for a much needed painting. You'll have to go around, but we'll still be here for you downtown.
Pocomoke River Drawbridge Closure Set to Begin in Less Than a Month
Motorists traveling through downtown Pocomoke City will soon face a significant traffic disruption as the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (SHA) prepares to begin a major cleaning and painting project on the historic Pocomoke River Drawbridge.
According to the latest project update from SHA, work on the US 13 Business (Market Street) bridge is scheduled to begin September 8, 2026, putting the start of the project less than a month away. Construction is expected to continue through November 8, weather permitting.
The project will require the historic drawbridge to remain in its fully open position while crews clean and paint the bridge's steel components. As a result, the bridge will be completely closed to vehicular traffic for approximately 60 days, with a detour in place during construction.
The bridge, identified by SHA as project XB1635C80, was last painted in 1999. The agency says cleaning and painting the steel helps protect it from rust, which can weaken the structure over time, while also improving the bridge's appearance.
**Historic bridge will receive preservation work**
The project involves more than routine maintenance on an ordinary highway bridge.
The Pocomoke River Bridge was designed in 1920 by the J. E. Greiner Company for Maryland's State Roads Commission. The double-leaf trunnion bascule bridge was constructed in the Classical Revival style and is a contributing resource to the Pocomoke City Historic District.
SHA describes the bridge as an example of the City Beautiful Movement, a period when communities placed greater emphasis on attractive civic infrastructure and public spaces.
The bridge also reflects an important period in the Eastern Shore's transportation history. As automobile travel expanded and steamboat traffic declined, improved roads and bridges became increasingly important in reconnecting Eastern Shore communities with population centers elsewhere on the Shore and across the Chesapeake Bay.
SHA's Management Plan for Historic Highway Bridges recommends routine cleaning and painting of historic bridges such as Pocomoke's river crossing. The agency says the work is intended to extend the bridge's lifespan while preserving its historic character.
**Project has been in development for nearly a year**
The upcoming closure has been in the works since at least 2025.
SHA began preliminary engineering in October 2025 and held a public open house at Pocomoke Middle School on January 15, 2026, where residents were given information about the planned project.
The project was advertised for contractor bids in February. By May, SHA was awaiting the award of the contract, and in June the contract was awarded to Olympus Painting Contractors, Inc.
SHA subsequently announced that the project was planned to begin after Labor Day. The agency's July and August updates now identify September 8 through November 8 as the scheduled construction period.
The project's design phase ran from summer 2025 through summer 2026, with construction classified as a fall 2026 project.
**What motorists should know**
Once work begins, motorists will not be able to use the Market Street bridge to cross the Pocomoke River. SHA says a full bridge closure and detour will be in effect for approximately 60 days, allowing crews to perform the work while the drawbridge remains fully open.
The project schedule is weather dependent, meaning the November 8 completion date could change if construction is delayed.
For Pocomoke City, the closure will affect one of the city's most recognizable landmarks and an important connection through the historic downtown area. Residents, commuters and businesses will have less than a month to prepare for the disruption.
Additional project information is available through the Maryland State Highway Administration. The project manager is Joseph Navarra of SHA's Office of Structures, who can be reached at 410-545-8315 or [email protected].
