5/13/2026: Maryland Delegate Todd B. Morgan announced that “MDOT/SHA listened to concerns raised by local officials and residents regarding the proposed Route 235 roadway project. Morgan said. “Thanks to everyone who showed up to speak up.”
In a May 7, 2026, letter to Delegate Morgan, Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary Kathryn Thomson said the Maryland State Highway Administration reviewed feedback from the public meeting and acknowledged that maintaining vehicular operations and roadway capacity was the most common concern.
“For this reason, SHA will modify the proposed improvements to ensure the existing roadway capacity is maintained,” Thomson stated.
MDOT said the revised plan will maintain the existing southbound right-turn lane along MD 235, allowing vehicles to continue accessing businesses without slowing down and turning from the through lane.
The letter also referenced a fatal pedestrian crash that occurred in the early morning hours of April 10, 2026, on MD 235 near Town Creek Drive in St. Mary’s County. Thomson said SHA will conduct a fatal infrastructure review at that location to evaluate conditions and determine whether additional safety improvements are needed. The crash location is less than half a mile from the proposed MD 235 PSAP project area.
While SHA is modifying the project to address concerns about traffic capacity, MDOT said some safety improvements that received positive feedback may still move forward with minimal impacts to vehicle operations.
Those improvements include modifying signalized intersections by removing channelized right-turn lanes, also known as “slip lanes,” while maintaining dedicated right-turn lanes at intersections. SHA also plans to convert the partial signal intersection at Buck Hewitt Road and Rue Purchase Road into a traditional full signal intersection.
Another proposed safety improvement includes installing a pedestrian safety fence in the median of MD 235 between the Pegg Road/Buse Road intersection and Exploration Drive.
“These efforts will not be delayed and will be coordinated with the current project for upgrading and implementing smart signals along MD 235,” Thomson stated.
MDOT also said SHA will explore funding opportunities to extend Three Notch Trail to connect to FDR Boulevard, which officials say would improve bicycle access along the corridor.
The MD 235 corridor had been identified through public feedback and prioritized by SHA for pedestrian and bicycle safety funding through the Pedestrian Safety Action Plan program. According to MDOT, early public feedback is an important part of the process to ensure final designs meet the needs and expectations of those who use the roadway.
3/5/2026: The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (SHA) will host a second public informational workshop, 5-7 p.m. Thursday, March 12, to present proposed concepts and gather more community input on ideas to improve pedestrian access and safety along MD 235 (Three Notch Road) in St. Mary’s County. The workshop will be held at Great Mills High School, 21130 Great Mills Road, Great Mills.
A proposal by the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration (SHA) to modify a busy section of MD 235 (Three Notch Road) is drawing concern from local officials and residents who question whether the plan would actually improve safety.
The project, identified as SM124B21, focuses on the stretch of MD 235 between MD 237 (Chancellors Run Road) and MD 246 (Great Mills Road) in St. Mary’s County. The corridor has been identified by SHA for improvements under the Maryland Pedestrian Safety Action Plan (PSAP), which targets areas with higher risks for pedestrian and bicycle crashes.
As part of the proposal, SHA is studying removing the dedicated southbound right-turn lane along MD 235 and converting the space into a multi-use path for walking, running, and bicycling. Under the concept being discussed, vehicles making right turns would do so directly from the right travel lane rather than a separate turn lane.
While the proposal is intended to improve pedestrian access and safety, some community members are skeptical about how the change could affect traffic along one of the county’s busiest roadways.
MD 235 serves as a major north-south corridor through the Lexington Park and Great Mills area, carrying heavy commuter traffic and providing access to numerous businesses, schools, and residential neighborhoods. Critics of the proposal say removing a turn lane could create congestion and potentially increase rear-end crashes as vehicles slow to make turns.
Local officials are already closely watching the proposal.
St. Mary’s County Government is monitoring the project and providing feedback to the state, and members of the county’s Maryland State Delegation are also engaged in discussions about the concept. One local official said they spoke with Delegate Todd Morgan about the issue earlier this week.
The project remains in the early stages, and state officials say public input will help shape the final design.
To gather community feedback, SHA will host a public informational workshop next week where residents can review the proposed concepts and speak directly with project representatives.
The workshop will be held on Thursday, March 12, 2026 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Great Mills High School, 21130 Great Mills Road, Great Mills
SHA officials say the meeting will provide an opportunity for residents to review potential improvements and offer feedback on ways to enhance pedestrian safety along the corridor.
Residents who travel through the area regularly or who have concerns about the proposal are encouraged to attend and share their input before any final decisions are made.
