OC median fence seems to be working

Rain or shine, there's no stopping people from making their way through the Town of Ocean City. Whether it's a local's daily commute or just a family of visitors getting a taste of OC's favorites, Coastal Highway is always busy.

"That is one of our most populated areas when it comes to pedestrians and bicyclists. There's a lot of hotels and condominiums and bars and restaurants in that area, so it's very highly condensed with pedestrians," explains Jessica Waters, public information officer with the Town of Ocean City. 

It's also a place that has become notorious for pedestrian accidents, which is why a median fence went up from 41st St. all the way down to the Route 50 bridge. 

Longtime Rita's employee, Kiersten Bateman, says, "They did whatever they wanted. They didn't listen to the signs, they didn't listen to the laws." 

Waters adds, "Before we would have people that would run through the road into the median and then again through the other side of the road." 

But the median fence is changing that, making it so it's almost impossible to cross the street unless they're at a designated crosswalk area. It's something local businesses and the town have already seen first hand. 

"I haven't seen anybody like running across the street. I think it keeps those drunk people out of danger really," says Dumser's employee Jamel Showell. 

"I think that encouraging people to take that extra time walk to the crosswalk, get safely across Coastal Highway. I think the median fence is playing a huge role in that," says Waters. 

And even though some think it's an eye sore, many think it's worth it. 

"I think it's effective. I don't like the look of the fence, it's kind of big, it's kind of ugly but it is being effective. It is preventing fatalities, it is preventing injuries and people are using the crosswalks," explains Bateman. 

Showell adds, "The aesthetics don't really matter if you're saving lives or keeping people out of danger from getting hit by a car." 

So far OC officials agree saying the fence appears to be working. However, they add they won't know for sure until summer is over and they can look at concrete numbers.