SALISBURY - This afternoon, six months ahead of schedule, state highway officials will open a 4 1/2 -mile U.S. 50 bypass around this Eastern Shore crossroads.

Celebrated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony and charity walk last weekend, the $94 million roadway cuts through Salisbury's north side and connects with Business Route 13 east of the city before linking with U.S. 50 near Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.

Construction began two years ago on the bypass, which will offer beach-bound vacationers a way to avoid bottlenecks at a half-dozen traffic signals near Salisbury's downtown business district.

The road had been scheduled to open next spring.