CENTREVILLE — The 2024 Transportation Priority letter was approved for submission to the Maryland Department of Transportation outlining transportation priorities for inclusion in the 2025-2030 Consolidated Transportation Plan.
Similar to previous years, county transportation priorities include expediting the process to add capacity to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, constructing improvements for Maryland Route 18, supporting efforts for bicycle and pedestrian networks, constructing a US 50 and MD 213 interchange, as well as intersection improvements on the US 301 corridor.
As in previous submissions, focus includes continued support of local transit efforts and regional coordination of transportation projects.
According to Steve Cohoon, public facilities planner, transportation planning moves slowly due to the scope and cost of improvement projects.
The need for increased bridge capacity was highlighted last Tuesday as the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration made emergency bridge joint repairs on the eastbound US 50 bridge over Kent Narrows with double left-lane closure, commissioners noted.
Commissioner President Jim Moran called the bridge joint repair a “nightmare,” understanding it was emergency repairs, “but it backed up 50 eastbound all the way over the Bay Bridge back to Bay Dale,” he said.
Ramp closures are based on volume of traffic typically at the highest accumulation on the weekends and emergency repairs June 11 suddenly made eastbound comparable to weekend traffic levels frustrations.
“One incident basically becomes a Sunday,” Commissioner Jack Wilson said.
The purpose of the recently implemented ramp closure pilot program has been an attempt to quell backroad traffic by drivers attempting to bypass weekend highway congestion.
Moran said the contraflow, or the third lane of traffic, is designated to wherever there is the most volume of traffic.
Drivers are also reminded to mind the red Xs in lanes announcing contraflow and commissioners sought more assistance and consistent enforcement to prevent drivers hopping in the closed line and cutting back the line, potentially increasing road rage and incidents.
“It’s frustrating, it really is,” Moran said.
Discussion is expected to continue with the state and the Bay Bridge Reconstruction Advisory Group to address emergency repairs, ramp closure times, as well as contraflow at its July meeting, Moran said.
“We’re going to have that conversation and see what happens moving forward,” he said.
For a list of all major State Highway Administration projects, visit Project Portal or the homepage at roads.maryland.gov. For a look at real-time traffic conditions, go to md511.maryland.gov.
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