Former MD 313
Sharptown, MD
A former alignment of MD 313 runs right through the heart of Sharptown, MD. This alignment was bypassed in 1987, with the opening of a new bypass and bridge crossing the Nanticoke River.
Also located on this former alignment are the remains of the former Nanticoke River crossing. A portion of what was a center swing span drawbridge serves as a fishing pier.
  | The remains of the
1912 drawbridge. You can see by the construction why it was bypassed. If you look straight across the water from the end of the bridge, you can see where the other end of the bridge landed. That section of the old carriageway was destroyed, and new wetlands planted, when the new bypassed opened in 1987. |
 | Looking back toward Sharptown from the bridge. |
 | The newer 1987 span, from the original. |
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Photos of the original Nanticoke River crossing,
courtesy of the
Town of Sharptown. Details on the original crossing, from the Town of Sharptown website: The Sharptown bridge over the Nanticoke river was the first bridge built entirely under the control of the State Roads Commission. It was constructed in 1912, and was rehabilitated in 1931, 1952, and 1986. It was replaced by a new bridge in 1987 and was then demolished. The site was a ferry crossing at least from the 1750's. In 1910, the State Legislature passed a Public Highway Act, which specifically provided for funding $35,000.00 for the construction of a bridge at Sharptown. The SRC Department of Surveys prepared plans and specifications and awarded the contract for the bridge on July 31,1911, to the Roanoke Iron and Bridge Company of Roanoke, Virginia. The Roanoke company was, at that time, a prolific designer of iron and steel truss bridges in Virginia and surrounding states. The bridge was a steel truss swing span, with a 200 foot + swing span and two 70 foot + Pratt trusses. The two-mirror image Pratt trusses were connected centrally by a portion of a Camelback truss. The Pratt trusses were three panels each, with no secondary diagonals in the innermost panels. The inner inclined end posts were in the position of diagonals for the Camelback, which had one central complete panel rising above the top chords of the Pratts. Over the roadway, between the two central panels of the Camelback was a platform which supported the the bridge tender's house, a situation which is rare in Maryland. All connections were riveted. The swing span was operated by hand crank when the bridge was first built, and may have been the last large drawbridge in the State of Maryland to be operated in that manner. An electric motor was installed in 1913. The bridge had seven fixed spans, six at 75 feet + and one at 12 feet +. The roadway width was 17 feet 6 inches + and the vertical clearance over the main channel was 10 feet +. The total length of the structure was 660 feet 8 inches +. |
 | Transitioning onto Ferry Street from the old bridge. Ferry Street was once MD 313. |
  | Hey... I remember what this contraption is! Though... based on the condition... I don't think any calls are going to be placed on this pay phone any time soon. |
  | Looking straight down Ferry Street. |
 | Ferry Street ends at State Street. MD 313 would make a right at this intersection, and continue the east. |
 | This intersection marks the historic END! of MD 348, at former MD 313. MD 348 would BEGIN! at the left side of the 4-way stop, and continue to the Delaware line. MD 348 now ENDS! at the new MD 313 bypass. |
 | Looking straight down State Street. |
  | Just outside of Sharptown, State Street transitions into what was Sharptown Road. Along with the MD 313 designation, the Sharptown Road moniker would transfer to the new bypass. |
Photos Taken August 18, 2007 by Corey Dukes (except where otherwise noted).
