MD 12 at Robins Avenue Intersection Improvements

The Challenge

The intersection of MD 12 and Robins Avenue in Salisbury, Maryland was an un-signalized, four-leg intersection. MD 12 was a relatively rare two-lane Urban Other Principal Arterial on the National Highway System consisting of just one lane in each direction with a dedicated southbound right-turn lane north of the intersection. Lane widths on MD 12 varied from 11 to 13 feet and pedestrian and bicycle accommodations were limited, with no sidewalks along MD 12 at the intersection, varying shoulder widths, and no marked bicycle facilities. Robins Avenue also consisted of one lane in each direction with no shoulders,16-foot-wide travel lanes, a sidewalk along the eastbound side, but no designated bicycle infrastructure. Overall, the intersection’s existing configuration exhibited safety and operational concerns for motorists and multimodal users causing Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Association (MDOT SHA) to conduct an Intersection Safety and Operations Study to identify potential improvements.

How We Helped

Working with MDOT SHA, the McCormick Taylor team completed the Intersection Safety and Operations Study in 2018 and managed the design of the project, providing highway, traffic, and hydrology and hydraulic engineering design, utility coordination, and construction consultation services.  

The MD 12 and Robins Avenue intersection improvements consisted of:

• Full depth outside widening along northbound MD 12 to add a left-turn lane and bicycle compatibility,
• Widening of the Robins Avenue approach to provide dedicated left and right-turn lanes,
• ADA-compliant sidewalk connectivity from the southwest quadrant of Robins Avenue to the existing sidewalk at Johnson Road,
• Full signalization of the intersection for motorists and pedestrians,
• Replacement and/or repair of storm drains and stormwater management facilities,
• Upgrades to signage and pavement markings, and
• Milling and resurfacing of the roadway.