(September 22, 2021) – The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) is launching a project to enhance bicycle safety and access along nearly five miles of Ten Oaks Road in Clarksville through a collaboration with Howard County and the assistance of a federal grant. The $3 million MD 32 alternate bike route project is in the design phase and will widen portions of the roadway to create better, safer access for bicyclists.
“As we improve Maryland’s roadways, it’s critical to take a multi-modal approach that considers all users,” MDOT Secretary Greg Slater said. “As a result of this collaborative effort with our partners in Howard County, the MD 32 bike route project will enhance travel options and safety for everyone in this area.”
The MD 32 alternate bike route project is federally funded through the Surface Transportation Block Grant program, with the state providing 20% of the funding. The project also will upgrade culverts and add new signage on Ten Oaks Road between Triadelphia Road and MD 108 (Clarksville Pike). This stretch of Ten Oaks Road running parallel to MD 32 and was selected as a new alternative bicycle route as the result of MDOT SHA’s 2020 feasibility study in partnership with Howard County.
“Once completed, this project will provide an improved alternative for bicyclists traveling through this portion of the county,” said MDOT SHA Tim Smith. “We thank Howard County for supporting MDOT SHA in our mission to help people get where they need to go safely.”
Improvements to the area’s bikeway network also will benefit from $1.1 million announced this week through the Kim Lamphier Bikeways Network Program. Administered by MDOT, the Kim Lamphier program offers grant assistance to improve safety and enhance multimodal connectivity. This grant will provide design funds for the shared-use path network along Ten Oaks Road, Guilford Road and MD 108. When completed, these paths will extend Columbia’s path network to businesses along MD 108 and across MD 32 (Patuxent Freeway).
MDOT SHA is currently working to widen MD 32 from two lanes to four lanes with a median between MD 108 (Clarksville Pike) and I-70. Surveyors will begin work in the coming months on Ten Oaks Road. MDOT SHA will mail letters to area property owners advising them of the survey work. Once that project is complete, bicyclists will no longer be permitted on MD 32 south of the Burntwoods Road interchange. For information on the MD 32 project, visit the project portal page here.
MDOT SHA works hard to maintain safe traffic mobility in work zones for our crews as well as our customers. Drivers need to stay alert, focus on driving and, look for reduced speed limits, as well as other driving pattern changes. Please drive like you work here and slow down in construction zones.