ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Gov. Larry Hogan is announcing an expansion of the Severn River Bridge in Annapolis.

The governor said Wednesday the bridge is heavily used and often experiences serious bottlenecks, especially in summer months when people are trying to reach the Eastern Shore.

The $22.8 million project includes adding an eastbound U.S. 50 bridge lane by shifting the existing median and restriping to provide seven through-travel lanes. Four of them will be eastbound and three of them will be westbound.

Construction will begin next week on the eastbound side. The project is scheduled to be completed before Memorial Day weekend next year.

An average of 126,000 vehicles uses that section of U.S. 50 each day. The number grows to more than 145,000 on a typical summer Friday.