Maryland State Highway Administration District Engineer Tim Smith
Lexington Park, MD — Short-term and long-term solutions to the safety issue plaguing Woodland Acres residents are on the way. But the case of the missing Gov. Thomas Johnson Bridge manhole cover remains a mystery. Those were among the topics discussed Oct. 4 by State Highway District Engineer Tim Smith during a joint Navy/county commissioners meeting.
Smith told the crowd that a new access road connecting Woodland Acres with Route 235 at First Colony Boulevard is in the design process with estimated construction completion in the winter of 2018-19.
Residents of the community have faced a safety issue since the completion of the additional lane of traffic on Route 4 in front of the entrance to their community. The two lanes of traffic make it nearly impossible to make a left turn onto Route 4.
Smith said a short-term band aid to the problem will be the constructing of an improved U-turn movement at Patuxent Boulevard. That will allow residents to make a right turn onto Route 4 and then a U-turn to proceed back to Route 235. “I know it’s not the perfect solution for everybody,” Smith said.
Regarding the manhole cover that disappeared in the early morning hours of Sept. 6, Smith said, “We don’t have a smoking gun to tell us how it happened.” One theory is that it fell through to the river below but there was no damage to a decking under where the cover was. Smith also believes that the size and weight of the cover precluded it from being hauled away by some prankster.
The manhole cover will be replaced on Oct. 17, Smith said, He also said that a spare cover would be readily available. “What a great answer,” quipped State Senator Steve Waugh (R – 29th District).
With the infamous scoring system for state road projects on hold by virtue of the governor’s veto, Smith said local road projects for the current fiscal year are continuing as planned. That scoring system removed projects from St. Mary’s County. Smith said things are uncertain beyond this year. The legislature could override the governor’s veto.
One of those key projects, and the region’s number one transportation priority — the bridge — continues in the design phase with no funding for right-of-way acquisition or construction. Smith said if it was up to him he would do the Route 4/235 intersection first and then the new dual bridges afterwards. But he said that was a decision that was being made above him.
Planning is also underway for improvements to the Route 5/Great Mills Road intersection. Included in consideration are adding one more travel lane in each direction on Route 5 and lengthening turn lanes. Also being looked at is realigning the intersection.
New signs directing visitors and trucks to the base’s Gate 1 and visitors to Gate 2 should be installed shortly. Also under consideration are median breaks within the gates to ease traffic movement.
Commissioner Mike Hewitt [R; 2nd District] renewed his concern about the turn movements at Route 235 and Gate 2. There are two turn lanes in both north and south directions and Hewitt said there is sometimes a conflict with the outer lanes in each direction. He suggested lines showing where traffic should go.
Smith said in addition to the marked lanes, the state is considering eliminating one turn lane on Route 235 in the northbound direction onto Great Mills Road.
Smith’s presentation was just two weeks ahead of the annual State Road Show coming to St. Mary’s County. State Department of Transportation officials will meet with the commissioners in the afternoon of Oct. 18 to give a more detailed presentation of the status of transportation projects in the county. Those officials will also meet with the Calvert and Charles county commissioners.
Contact Dick Myers at dick.myers@thebaynet.com