(October 21, 2010) – For decades, motorists in the Great Mills area of St. Mary’s County have known MD 237 (Chancellor’s Run Road) as a winding, two-lane road.  Next week, they’ll get to drive it for the first time as a safer, divided highway.

On or about Sunday evening, October 24, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) will shift northbound MD 237 traffic onto the new northbound roadway, and fully activate five new traffic signals between Pegg Road and MD 235 (Three Notch Road).  These signals will turn to “full color” operation at the following locations along MD 237: Amber Drive / Fire Department Lane; Military Road / Greenview Parkway; Buck Hewitt Road / Norris Road; Horsehead Road  at the Chancellor’s Run Regional Park entrance and Pegg Road, weather permitting.

“Governor Martin O’Malley has always maintained that the safety of Maryland citizens is our top priority,” said Transportation Secretary Beverley K. Swaim-Staley.  “Even in the face of the worst recession in generations, Governor O’Malley maintained construction funding for this important project reflecting the commitment of the O’Malley/Brown Administration to the future of St. Mary’s County and the safety of its citizens.”

SHA has placed the new signals on caution mode to give drivers a few days to adjust to the reconstructed intersections.  The caution signals will flash yellow on the mainline (MD 237) and red on side streets.  Motorists driving in both directions will use the outside (right) lanes so crews can safely construct center medians and left turn lanes.  SHA plans to open all through lanes – two lanes in each direction - and turn lanes to traffic by the end of this year, weather permitting.

To improve safety, SHA built five-foot wide shoulder lanes to accommodate cyclists, and five miles of ADA-compliant sidewalks now link the many communities along MD 237 with Chancellor’s Run Regional Park and the Loffler Senior Center.  Crews also installed audible/countdown pedestrian crossing signals at major intersections along MD 237. 

The 2.8-mile project began in 2008 and extends from MD 235 to Pegg Road.  SHA awarded the $38 million project to Lane Construction.  More than 16,000 vehicles travel MD 237 on average each day. 

SHA reminds motorists that MD 237 remains an active work zone, and encourages all motorists to drive responsibly and “Think Orange” by driving the speed limit and remaining alert at all times. Learn more about work zone safety and the Choose Safety for Life campaign at www.choosesafetyforlife.com.

 

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