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It’s been about a year since the St. Mary’s County commissioners last met with state transportation officials but the big question remained the same.
Maryland Department of Transportation officials also visited Calvert and Charles counties as part of a statewide transportation tour to discuss the department’s Consolidated Transportation Program for fiscal years 2025 to 2030.
The program is Maryland’s $18.9 billion, six-year capital budget for transportation projects that cover a wide range of initiatives aimed at enhancing the state’s infrastructure.
But the No. 1 topic on everyone’s mind remained the same.
“My question is the same as last year. I’d really like to know where we are with the [Gov.] Thomas Johnson Bridge,” Commissioner Scott Ostrow (R) asked. “In my opinion, that bridge is very important. It’s a vital corridor. It’s a matter of national security between the nuclear power plant in Calvert and [Naval Air Station Patuxent River] here. It’s past its life span.”
“The good news is we are making traction,” said State Highway Administrator William Pines, who added that work will begin in the spring on geo-technical activities, bathymetric surveys and the U.S. Coast Guard height issue. “I know we talked about that last year, but now we have some vendors in place to support us on some of those activities so we’re making headway. I know it feels like a long time, but we are over the hurdle with our federal partners.”
Pines said the Gov. Harry W. Nice Memorial/Sen. Thomas “Mac” Middleton Bridge between Charles County and Virginia cost $636 million and that the Thomas Johnson project would be “monumental” and “in today’s costs, north of that.”
Commissioner Mike Hewitt (R), who chaired the meeting in place of Commissioner President Randy Guy (R), said the key was to “keep bringing [the subject] up.”
Among the St. Mary’s-based projects underway is the construction of the $6.8 million bridge replacement over Hilton Run on Route 5, south of Great Mills.
Pines said work is expected to begin next week and a temporary signal will be installed to help manage traffic.
Three Notch Road from routes 237 to 246 has been selected for a Pedestrian Safety Action Plan to expand and enhance pedestrian safety features to make the Route 235 corridor safer and more accessible.
Officials are also investing $1.6 million to support St. Mary’s transit operations.
Commissioner Mike Alderson (R) said the “big project” he was concerned about was the lack of a signal at Route 242 (Colton Point Road) and Route 5, but was told it was still on track to be done.
Del. Matt Morgan (R-St. Mary’s) asked about sidewalk projects that were funded for Leonardtown on Hollywood Road, and was told the project was on hold pending design and funding.
“One of the projects that has been on everyone’s agenda since at least 15 years ago is the Route 5 project at the bottom of Great Mills Road,” Del. Todd Morgan (R-St. Mary’s, Calvert) said. “As much as we’ve gone forward, I see we’re now zeroed out until at least 2030. Can you help me a little bit on that one?”
“We basically completed design,” Pines said. “We’re still closing out the right-of-way and utilities so that whenever construction money would be forthcoming, it’s on the shelf ready to go.”
“We take a look at our federal sources and we maximize those because they all have different parameters,” Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld said, “so if there’s an opportunity to move a project because of the federal portion of it, then we’ll pursue it.”
For more information about the MDOT Consolidated Transportation Program or to view the draft, go to www.mdot.maryland.gov.
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