Fort Meade Projects Included in the Administration’s $472.2 Million Package for Transportation in Anne Arundel County
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Larry Hogan today announced a series of transportation investments in western Anne Arundel County, where significant growth over the past decade has contributed to traffic bottlenecks on MD 175 at Fort Meade. In all, the Hogan administration has committed $139 million for construction projects to widen over three miles of MD 175 from MD 295 to Mapes Road, converting the stretch of road from two lanes to six lanes and addressing Anne Arundel County’s top transportation priority.
“The investments we are highlighting today will ease a notorious bottleneck that has plagued this region for far too long,” said Governor Hogan. “With the growth of Fort Meade, these projects are critical to delivering the infrastructure needed to support the 52,000 employees who rely on MD 175 every day.”
“The state has been a great partner as we work hard to deliver key projects for Fort Meade,” said Anne Arundel County Executive Steve Schuh. “These projects will increase capacity and improve safety on the MD 175 corridor, which is our county’s top transportation priority.”
At a press conference near Fort Meade, Governor Hogan also announced that design is underway for additional improvements to the MD 175/MD 295 interchange. The project will ultimately provide a wider MD 175 bridge that expands the number of lanes from two to six and reconfigures ramps at the MD 295 interchange to include signalized left turns. Construction will include ADA-compliant sidewalks and a shared-use path on MD 175.
Funding for this $81.2 million project is part of Governor Hogan’s $1.97 billion investment in highway and bridge improvements announced last June. Work is scheduled to begin in fall 2018.
Additionally, Governor Hogan outlined plans for a $43.7 million construction project starting in the fall of 2016 to improve travel along the one-mile stretch of MD 175 from Disney Road to Reece Road. The widening project will ease congestion by converting the two-lane undivided highway to a six-lane divided highway with a median. A hiker/biker trail and on-road bike facilities are part of these improvements. Work on this project is expected to be completed in spring 2018.
These new major investments will support the MD 175 Fort Meade Multimodal Accessibility Project and are vital to support increased employment around Fort Meade and the National Security Administration.
Finally, the Hogan administration announced that construction continues to move forward on another key project that will improve access to Fort Meade. The $14.5 million MD 175/Reece Road and MD 175/Mapes Road intersection improvement project will add turn and through lanes at both intersections near Fort Meade gates 3 and 4. Improvements will be complete in fall 2018 and will include bicycle and pedestrian facilities, a new security fence, and a tree buffer along Fort Meade’s property.
“When I took command, it was obvious that transforming Route 175 into a modern roadway had to be a priority,” said Fort George G. Meade Garrison Commander Colonel Brian P. Foley. “Because of its importance, the state of Maryland has worked hard to make it a reality.”
Governor Hogan’s announcement demonstrates his commitment to safety and infrastructure improvements and the growth of Fort Meade. Today, more than 24,000 drivers travel MD 175 daily, with 65,000 people expected to use this highway in 2035.
The $139 million construction funding for the MD 175 projects is part of the Hogan administration’s $472.2 million in transportation investments in Anne Arundel County, including $381.5 million for highways, $70.6 million for transit, and $317,326 in grants for highway safety and other programs.
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