(November 1, 2013) – Governor Martin O’Malley and Howard County Executive Ken Ulman today announced that the new interchange along MD 32 at Linden Church Road near Dayton will open to traffic by Friday, November 8, weather permitting.
The $16.5 million interchange, funded by Howard County and built by the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA), will improve safety and reduce congestion by eliminating two traffic signals on MD 32 at east and west Linden Church roads and replacing them with an interchange and two-lane bridge carrying Linden Church Road over MD 32. Work began on the project in summer 2012.
“Even in tough economic times, Howard County Executive Ken Ulman recognized the need to make key infrastructure investments to enhance the safety of county residents and help motorists spend more time with their families and less time stuck in traffic,” said Governor O’Malley. “I commend Howard County for stepping forward to fund this project and working with the State to bring needed traffic relief to this heavily-traveled corridor.”
Currently, 27,000 vehicles travel this stretch of MD 32 each day, with traffic projected to increase to 36,000 vehicles per day by 2025. The old signalized intersections of MD 32 with West Linden Church Road and East Linden Church Road were extremely congested and unable to efficiently handle traffic volumes during peak morning and evening rush hours.
“Improvements on MD 32 have been Howard County’s top traffic safety priority,” said Howard County Executive Ken Ulman. “The County and SHA have worked together on a number of initiatives in the area, and this project is a big step in the right direction. There is more work to be done, but we are glad that our partnership is paying dividends. I also thank the residents of the area for their input and attention as we work to make this highway safer.”
This aerial view facing south shows the new interchange design, which includes a bridge over MD 32 and a roundabout at the intersection of Linden Church Road with Greenberry and Broadwater lanes.
The new bridge and MD 32 on-ramps opened October 16. Crews are now working to complete the MD 32 off-ramps. Until the off-ramps open, detours are in place for access to Linden Church Road. Northbound MD 32 motorists will follow signs to turn right at east Linden Church Road for access to east or west Linden Church Road, while southbound MD 32 motorists will follow signs to the Burntwoods Road exit and follow Ten Oaks Road to reach Linden Church Road. Drivers on MD 32 should also be prepared for overnight lane closures with flagging on MD 32 between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. next week as crews complete paving on MD 32.
After the new ramps open by November 8, weather permitting, crews will continue final paving on the MD 32 on-ramps and remove a temporary connection from MD 32 to Broadwater Lane used during construction. This work should be completed by December, while landscaping work will finish this spring.
The new Linden Church Road interchange is part of the State’s ongoing efforts to reduce congestion and improve safety along MD 32, and is one of several projects undertaken in preparation for the proposed widening of MD 32 to a four-lane, access-controlled, divided highway between I-70 and MD 108. The new bridge was designed to accommodate the planned future widening of MD 32.
Three miles to the north, SHA completed a similar project in 2009 at MD 32 and Burntwoods Road. The next major project, an interchange along MD 32 at Rosemary Lane, is in design. Future projects include new interchanges at MD 144, I-70, Nixon’s Farm Lane and the entrance to the State and County highway maintenance facilities in Dayton. The time frame for these future projects and eventual widening of MD 32 will depend on funding availability and state, federal and environmental permit approvals.
SHA’s contractors for the project are the Design-Build team of RK&K Engineers of Baltimore and Concrete General Inc. of Gaithersburg. More information about the project is available at
www.tinyurl.com/lindenchurch.
While SHA and its partners work hard to maintain safe traffic mobility in work zones, each driver needs to actively modify his or her driving style to help prevent crashes. Stay alert – look for reduced speed limits, narrow driving lanes and highway workers. Slow down and don't follow too closely. Safer Driving. Safer Work Zones. For everyone!
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