The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration will soon begin a major culvert replacement project on MD 225, also known as Hawthorne Road, at the crossing of a branch of Mattawoman Creek in Charles County.
The project will replace the existing roadway crossing and culverts, identified as structure CH1685180. SHA officials said the current multi-pipe metal culvert was originally constructed in 1951 and is nearing the end of its useful service life.
If the structure is not replaced, SHA said weight restrictions for trucks would eventually need to be posted to ensure safety. Those restrictions could have a significant impact on local traffic movement and the economy along MD 225.
The existing culverts will be replaced with a multi-pipe concrete culvert designed to provide a longer, maintenance-free service life. SHA said the project is intended to improve safety, maintain mobility, reduce future maintenance costs, and keep the transportation system in a good state of repair.
Construction is expected to require multiple stages of work, including a temporary road closure and detour lasting approximately five months.
SHA and its contractor are scheduled to close a section of MD 225 beginning Thursday night, June 18, after the evening rush hour. Portable variable message signs are being placed in the area to alert drivers of the upcoming closure.
SHA said the project design process considered the needs of the traveling public and that efforts will be made to minimize impacts while completing the work.
The project is currently in the construction phase. SHA previously held public outreach events, including a public open house in July 2025 and another open house on April 21, 2026, at the Potomac Heights Volunteer Fire Department in Charles County.
The construction contract was advertised earlier this year, with bids opened in January 2026. Project outreach continued through the spring and summer as the project moved toward construction.
