​Anne Arundel County Contributing $10.6 Million toward Design and Construction  

(October 20, 2025) – Officials from the Maryland Department of Transportation and the State Highway Administration (SHA) today joined state and local leaders from Anne Arundel County to highlight the $113.8 million safety and mobility project in the Department’s Draft FY 2026-2031 Consolidated Transportation Program along Interstate 97 from MD 32 to US 50/US 301.

The project, a collaborative partnership between SHA and Anne Arundel County, will enhance safety while reducing congestion and travel times in this heavily used corridor. Currently, 94,000 to 113,400 vehicles travel this seven-mile stretch of I-97 every day. Those peak numbers are expected to increase by 2045 to more than 135,000.

“I-97 is a critical artery in Anne Arundel County for residents, students, commuters and those visiting Annapolis,” said Acting Maryland Transportation Secretary Samantha J. Biddle, who joined local officials Monday at an event to celebrate the funding agreement. “Anne Arundel County has been a tremendous partner and advocate for this project, and the county’s match contribution will help us improve the safety and reliability of our network, spur economic vitality for the region and ensure a state of good repair for this key piece of our highway system.”

I-97 project limits

I-97 north of this segment is six lanes total, making the taper down to this four-lane segment one of the state’s worst daily bottlenecks. Additionally, traffic worsens every summer weekend as families face congestion traveling to reach the beach. This project will relieve traffic on I-97, reducing diversion onto adjacent arterials such as MD 2 and MD 3. Shared safety goals will be promoted by keeping motorists on the interstate, saving lives by reducing conflicts between pedestrians and motorists on other roadways.

Addressing I-97 has been identified as a top transportation priority by Anne Arundel County. The project moved to the engineering phase based on funding from Governor Wes Moore and the General Assembly during the 2025 legislative session and will advance to construction as the result of an agreement with the county to contribute roughly $1.2 million for planning and more than $9.4 million toward construction.

“Through this vital investment, we improve safety, ensure good repair and reduce congestion along this critical interstate corridor,” said Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman. “I appreciate the work of the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration in advancing this project for the benefit of Anne Arundel County residents.”

The project includes:

The State Highway Administration will use a Design-Build process for the I-97 project, entering into a single contract with a team made up of a designer and contractor. Under this process, which has been employed in other large-scale projects across Maryland, design and construction are completed by a single team, allowing for portions of the construction to proceed concurrently while the design is being advanced. It is anticipated SHA will enter a contract with a Design-Builder in 2027 with major construction beginning in 2028.

“Whether you are traveling to BWI Marshall Airport, Annapolis or Ocean City, I-97 is a critical interstate connection,” said State Highway Administrator Will Pines. “Working with our county partners, we’ll advance this local and regional priority to support the state’s economy and deliver a safer, reliable transportation system for all Marylanders.”

“This investment in I-97 is a win for Anne Arundel County and for Maryland,” said State Senator Dawn Gile, District 33. “I-97 connects key population and economic centers while running straight through our county. Widening this corridor will improve safety, ease congestion and strengthen the flow of people and commerce across our state. I’m grateful to Governor Moore, Acting Secretary Biddle, Administrator Pines and the dedicated teams at MDOT and SHA for prioritizing this critical project for our region and for Maryland’s future.”

Monday’s event was hosted by SHA and held at First Christian Community Church along I-97 and occurred a few hours before SHA and other MDOT representatives met with Anne Arundel County officials for the annual Consolidated Transportation Program meeting to brief officials on upcoming projects and initiatives. 

Improvements on I-97 reinforce MDOT’s Serious About Safety initiative, a department-wide effort focused on advocacy, education, project development and implementation to advance safety goals and save lives. More information about the project is available on its Project Portal page here. To view the Draft FY 2026-2031 Consolidated Transportation Program, visit here.​