Follow the 'H' to McCready ...

McCready's marketing office contacted the State Highway Administration earlier this year to inquire how the widely recognized blue and white “H” hospital signs along Crisfield Highway (MD Rt. 413) might be updated.

Several of the signs were faded and bent.

After seeing photos of the old signs, Gene Cofiell Jr., an SHA assistant district engineer for traffic based in Salisbury, agreed they should be replaced and pledged to include them on a list of upgrades the agency has been performing along the main route connecting U.S. 13 and Crisfield.

In addition to ordering new signs, the SHA recalibrated their locations to ensure the mileage markers reflected more accurate distances to the final destination. That resulted in a slight modification of where the new signs were placed.

Blue-and-white signs are placed in key locations along major thoroughfares to guide motorists to the nearest hospital. The internationally recognized symbol is especially helpful during emergencies.

McCready Memorial is among the few hospitals in the country accessible by vehicle, helicopter and boat.

SHA sign foreman Gary Collins Sr. of the agency's Princess Anne shop installed the final sign the first week of June approximately five miles from the hospital along Crisfield Highway (Rt. 413) near the Crisfield-Marion Road (Rt. 667) intersection.

Collins said the agency generally follows a policy of installing "H" signs seven feet above road grade -- and noted some of the old signs he replaced were not in compliance.

After driving an anchor two feet into the moist bank of a ditch, Collins put the sign post in place and bolted it down. Special grommets that required one mighty strike of the hammer were used to affix the signs to the poles.

The installation took Collins, a 39-year employee, less than 20 minutes.

Charles Pinkerman, McCready's chief executive officer, said he appreciated the SHA's willingness to update the signs.