Leonardtown Mayor Dan Burris (r) and Del. Matt Morgan (c) talk to SHA District Engineer Tim Smith before the public hearing. Photo by Dick Myers

Leonardtown, MD — Sometimes the devil is in the details. Although the widening of Route 5 in Leonardtown has been pressed by local officials for years when it came time to reveal plans for the first phase there was significant opposition. The plans were unveiled at a Jan. 19 public hearing attended by a crowd that packed into the Leonardtown VFD social hall.

While many of the more than a dozen speakers criticized individual aspects of the plan, the main gripe was over what wasn’t in the plan – a traffic light at the Moakley/Abell streets intersection. As one speaker said after another commented about speeding on Route 5: “We need a light. We need something to slow people down.” The comment drew loud applause from the audience. Then she added,” It’s like suicide trying to get out of there (onto Route 5). We need a light there.”

The first phase is a breakout from the ultimate project that runs from Routes 245 to Route 243. The first phase runs from the entrance to MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital to the entrance to Clark’s Run. According to the project description, it includes:

• “Widening the roadway to include six-foot-wide bicycle-compatible shoulders in each direction. The added shoulders will also accommodate members of the Amish and Mennonite communities by separating their horses-and-buggies from mainline traffic;
• “Reconstructing sidewalks and pedestrian ramps;
• “Constructing left-turn lanes at the intersection of Abell/Moakley Streets and MD 5;
• “Installing continuous grass median throughout the project limits;
• “Constructing shoulders between the St. Mary’s Hospital entrance and the Clark’s Run development;
• “Improving curbs and gutters;
• “Rehabilitating, constructing, resurfacing and/or restriping roadway pavement;
• Installing drainage systems and storm-water management facilities; and adding landscaping and [planting trees.

The breakout project was included in supplemental funding provided by Gov. Larry Hogan last year. Design Project Manager Luis Gonzalez said right-of-way acquisition would begin later this year with construction slated for the fall of 2018.

The project will involve purchasing of front yards of homes along the road, the taking of a portion of the St. Paul’s Cemetery, including several possible unmarked graves, and the mitigation of a stream crossing.

At the beginning of the public meeting Leonardtown Mayor Dan Burris said, “We realize it is not a panacea but it’s a start.” The mayor and council have been lobbying for years for a stoplight at the intersection but the state continues to insist the “warrants” or the amount of traffic does not trigger a decision in favor of a light.

Delegate Matt Morgan [R – 29-A] said the state was interested in hearing what everyone had to say or they wouldn’t be holding the public hearing. He said the plans could be modified if necessary. And District Engineer Tim Smith said his office would ask that the light issue be revisited. He urged attendees to present their comments in writing. “These are plans and the plans are subject to change,” Smith said.

Speakers impacted by the project questioned the need for the wide grass median that they said caused more land to be taken from them. And residents along the road complained that they would be prevented from entering their driveways going southbound but instead would have to make a U-turn at the already dangerous Moakley/Abell streets intersection.

The project is mainly intended to prevent rear-end collisions at the intersection by providing for separate left hand turns coming in each direction. But the speakers argued that did not prevent accidents caused by people attempting to cross that intersection from either street. Most said they routinely bypassed the intersection altogether and went through the hospital parking lot.

One speaker wondered if the hospital had been contacted to discuss the impact of the plan on them. She was told they had not been contacted.

Comments on the plan can be made to Maryland State Highway Administrator, Office of Highway Department, 707 North Calvert St., Mail Stop C-102, Baltimore, MD 21202.Toll free phone number is 1-888-228-5003 and ask for Luis Gonzalez. His email address is lgonzalez@sha.state.md.us

Contact Dick Myers at dick.myers@thebaynet.com