(April 28, 2016) When his office announced Gov. Larry Hogan’s schedule for his Eastern Shore Tour last week and noted a transportation press conference at the Board of Education building in Newark, the topic of conversation could only have been Route 113.
The governor announced $86.4 million in funding for the fourth and final phase of the Route 113 dualization project, with construction expected to begin in early spring next year, and opening to traffic two years later.
Worcester County’s major north-south highway has been the county’s priority transportation project for decades. Despite changes in nearly every other facet of life on the shore during that time, one of few constants has been continued support to expand the highway to four lanes for its entire run through Maryland.
“Worcester County did it right,” Jim Ports Jr., deputy secretary of operations for the Department of Transportation, said. “Route 113 was put in as a priority and never once went off. This has been through several governors, but this governor is getting it done.”
Currently underway is Phase 3, which runs from Massey Branch Road as the northernmost junction down to Five Mile Branch Road in the south. Construction began in 2015, and this section is expected to be open to traffic in 2018.
Bicycle and pedestrian improvements will be included, according to the state.
During the offseason, according to information provided by the state, this section of road carries 9,250 to 13,000 vehicles, and a couple hundred more daily during the summer. By 2035, the state estimates traffic will increase significantly.
This section is expected to cost $50.4 million, the lion’s share of which is to come from federal sources. The state’s share is reported to be $14.2 million.
Phase 4 is a 4.3-mile stretch between Five Mile Branch Road in the north to Public Landing Road to the south, and is the final section of road to be converted from two-lane to four-lane highway. Construction will be advertised later this spring, and traffic estimates for this section of road mirror those of Phase 3.
According to figures provided by the state, the federal government will cover $67.2 million of $86.4 million total cost, with the state picking up the balance.
The highway safety project does have a Phase 5, but it is an overpass at the junction of Route 113 and Snow Hill Road and involves no road construction. The completion of Phase 4 signals the end of major expansion efforts on the road.
“I inherited an infrastructure that had largely been ignored,” Gov. Larry Hogan said. “Transportation funds had been syphoned. State funding was slashed 96 percent. Local roads will get $6 million more in the coming fiscal year, and I’m going to commit $2 billion to infrastructure. We’re moving forward with every highest-priority item in the state — all 86 of them.”
Local advocates and officials were pleased by the announcement.
“The county wants to thank Gov. Hogan. We’ve traveled a long road to get here. Route 113 was once a dangerous road and there were too many lives claimed. The project started in 1999, and there’s one more phase to go, which is now going to be completed. Thank you governor,” County Commissioner President Jim Bunting said.
Ports, serving as emcee, then introduced Bob Hulburd, president of CRASH (County Residents Action for Safer Highways, who spearheaded the local push to expand the highway after his cousin Lee Figgs was killed on the highway in 1994.
“The community advocated for this for decades,” Ports said. “The CRASH team deserves credit for keeping the pressure on us.”
Hulburd took the podium in the Board of Education meeting room where he had spent a decade as a member.
“I’ve never been accused of being speechless but I might be today,” he said. “It’s a red letter day … the community had had enough — 97 people died in the 20 years we’ve pursued this. It became a question of ‘people preservation,’ and lives have been saved today — maybe yours, or someone you love,” Hulburd continued.
“Thank goodness for what we have. Thank goodness for the people who came before. I hope to live long enough to see it completed,” he said.
Hulburd said he expects to walk on the completed road with SHA district engineer Donnie Drewer.
Drewer, who will retire in October, said he intends to keep the promise.
The governor announced $86.4 million in funding for the fourth and final phase of the Route 113 dualization project, with construction expected to begin in early spring next year, and opening to traffic two years later.
Worcester County’s major north-south highway has been the county’s priority transportation project for decades. Despite changes in nearly every other facet of life on the shore during that time, one of few constants has been continued support to expand the highway to four lanes for its entire run through Maryland.
“Worcester County did it right,” Jim Ports Jr., deputy secretary of operations for the Department of Transportation, said. “Route 113 was put in as a priority and never once went off. This has been through several governors, but this governor is getting it done.”
Currently underway is Phase 3, which runs from Massey Branch Road as the northernmost junction down to Five Mile Branch Road in the south. Construction began in 2015, and this section is expected to be open to traffic in 2018.
Bicycle and pedestrian improvements will be included, according to the state.
During the offseason, according to information provided by the state, this section of road carries 9,250 to 13,000 vehicles, and a couple hundred more daily during the summer. By 2035, the state estimates traffic will increase significantly.
This section is expected to cost $50.4 million, the lion’s share of which is to come from federal sources. The state’s share is reported to be $14.2 million.
Phase 4 is a 4.3-mile stretch between Five Mile Branch Road in the north to Public Landing Road to the south, and is the final section of road to be converted from two-lane to four-lane highway. Construction will be advertised later this spring, and traffic estimates for this section of road mirror those of Phase 3.
According to figures provided by the state, the federal government will cover $67.2 million of $86.4 million total cost, with the state picking up the balance.
The highway safety project does have a Phase 5, but it is an overpass at the junction of Route 113 and Snow Hill Road and involves no road construction. The completion of Phase 4 signals the end of major expansion efforts on the road.
“I inherited an infrastructure that had largely been ignored,” Gov. Larry Hogan said. “Transportation funds had been syphoned. State funding was slashed 96 percent. Local roads will get $6 million more in the coming fiscal year, and I’m going to commit $2 billion to infrastructure. We’re moving forward with every highest-priority item in the state — all 86 of them.”
Local advocates and officials were pleased by the announcement.
“The county wants to thank Gov. Hogan. We’ve traveled a long road to get here. Route 113 was once a dangerous road and there were too many lives claimed. The project started in 1999, and there’s one more phase to go, which is now going to be completed. Thank you governor,” County Commissioner President Jim Bunting said.
Ports, serving as emcee, then introduced Bob Hulburd, president of CRASH (County Residents Action for Safer Highways, who spearheaded the local push to expand the highway after his cousin Lee Figgs was killed on the highway in 1994.
“The community advocated for this for decades,” Ports said. “The CRASH team deserves credit for keeping the pressure on us.”
Hulburd took the podium in the Board of Education meeting room where he had spent a decade as a member.
“I’ve never been accused of being speechless but I might be today,” he said. “It’s a red letter day … the community had had enough — 97 people died in the 20 years we’ve pursued this. It became a question of ‘people preservation,’ and lives have been saved today — maybe yours, or someone you love,” Hulburd continued.
“Thank goodness for what we have. Thank goodness for the people who came before. I hope to live long enough to see it completed,” he said.
Hulburd said he expects to walk on the completed road with SHA district engineer Donnie Drewer.
Drewer, who will retire in October, said he intends to keep the promise.