Maryland
Next phase of Washington County I-81 widening being split in two. What to know on project
Maryland’s Interstate 81 widening project to be split into more phases
Maryland State Highway Administrator William Pines talks Oct. 9, 2025, about the need to split phase two of widening I-81 in Washington County.
The next phase of widening Interstate 81 in Washington County, phase two, will be split into two phases to help keep the project on track, said Administrator William Pines with the Maryland State Highway Administration.
Phase 2A construction is anticipated to start in 2027, Pines said. That will involve widening I-81 to six lanes from Md. 63/Md. 68 (Lappans Road) to Interstate 70. Construction for Phase 2B, from I-70 to north of Halfway Boulevard, is expected to start in 2028. Work on both will overlap.
Pines said the decision this past summer to split phase two into two parts is due to stormwater management issues because talks with CSX haven’t gone well regarding getting right-of-way for stormwater ponds at the north end of Phase 2.
Rather than delay the entire project, state highway officials decided to break Phase 2 into two parts to keep the overall schedule on track and allow for more time to negotiate with CSX, he said.
Project officials are now looking at alternatives such as constructing underground storage tanks along the corridor to handle the additional volume of stormwater from widening I-81, Pines said. There also might be other places stormwater ponds could be built.
Widening I-81 not only creates more impervious space for stormwater runoff, but that runoff occurs faster with that volume, Pines said.
Pines provided an update on the I-81 widening project during an Oct. 9 meeting Maryland Department of Transportation officials had with local officials regarding state projects and transportation issues in Washington County. The meeting was held at the Washington County Public Safety Training Center south of Hagerstown.
The meeting was part of the transportation department’s fall tour to local jurisdictions to discuss the department’s draft $21.5 billion, six-year capital budget.
The department’s final FY 2026-2031 Consolidated Transportation Program, the capital budget, will come out in January.
State lawmakers will consider the plan as part of the state budget process, including formally approving fiscal year 2026-2027, and likely discussing longer term projects.
Pines said adding underground stormwater structures will add to the Phase 2 I-81 project cost.
The anticipated total estimated cost for Phase two has already gone up from $99 million, as of this past spring, to $107.8 million due to additional design expenses and a revised construction estimate, according to the state’s draft capital budget.
What’s included in Phase 2 widening of I-81 in Western Maryland?
Phase 2 of the widening project adds one lane in each direction to create three northbound and three southbound lanes.
The project also includes creating two noise barriers, similar to the walls seen along Interstate 95.
One of the noise barriers is proposed along northbound I-81 near Tammany Manor, according to a project diagram on the state’s project website for Phase 2. Tammany Manor is south of the I-81/I-70 interchange.
The other proposed noise barrier is along southbound I-81 near Lakeside Village in Halfway.
The plan for Phase 2 also includes new overhead traffic signs, including dynamic messaging signs, which can provide real-time information. The stretch of I-81 in Washington County currently has one dynamic messaging sign in the area of Showalter Road.
Most of widening Phase 2’s almost 4 miles will occur by using the current median area, according to the project website.
The project also includes replacing bridge structures over the CSX railroad tracks north of Halfway Boulevard.
What about widening the rest of I-81?
Local officials at the Oct. 9 meeting also asked about Phases 3 and 4, which would be needed to complete the widening of I-81 to the Pennsylvania state line.
While the draft capital plan has a project page for completing the last 7.2 miles of I-81 to the Pennsylvania state line, there is no future funding listed for those parts of the project through fiscal year 2031.
Washington County Commissioners Vice President Jeff Cline and State Sen. Paul Corderman, R-Washington/Frederick, talked about the need to improve I-81 for safety and for the local economy.
Corderman referred to crash data he received from the Washington County Division of Emergency Services regarding the total number of accidents to which fire and law enforcement officials had responded. The data included all accidents, including those with injury and/or property damage.
The rate of crashes along the county’s 12 miles of I-81 is on pace to reach 452 this year with 339 as of data shared on Oct. 8. There were 458 crashes in 2024 and 390 in 2023.
The rate of accidents on the county’s 38 miles of I-70 was on pace to reach 884 this year, with 663 as of the Oct. 8 data report. There were 760 crashes in 2024 and 690 in 2023.
Cline said delays on I-81 or I-70 can cost economic losses of hundreds of thousands of dollars for the community.
Corderman and Cline referred to recent crashes on both interstates.
On Thursday, Sept. 25, a Falling Waters, West Virginia, woman was pronounced dead after a three-vehicle crash on I-81 near Williamsport that involved two tractor-trailers and a passenger car.
That stretch of northbound I-81 was closed for more than 12 hours while authorities conducted a crash investigation, according to Maryland State Police. The preliminary investigation indicates a FedEx tractor-trailer hit the car as the car was slowing down for traffic, state police have said.
State police responded around 11:25 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 7, to the single-vehicle crash of a tractor-trailer hauling lettuce on eastbound I-70 near Saint Paul Road. No one was transported for injuries, according to state police.
That stretch of I-70 didn’t fully reopen until around 5 p.m. the next day, Oct. 8, according to state police.
When crashes close one of the interstates it leads to congestion not only to local roads in the immediate area, but to the broader area, officials have said.
Sen. McKay cautions about distracted driving
Speaking generally, Sen. Mike McKay, R-Washington/Allegany/Garrett, held up a cellphone during the meeting and said, “I think this is going to be the death of our community.”
Drivers are paying more attention to their phones than to the road, McKay said.
He urged community members to “show a little grace and respect to the other drivers that are on the road. Pay attention. Pay attention to what you’re doing,” McKay said.
He said he’s just as guilty as the next person.
Pines said officials need to work together on the education front when it comes to driver behavior.
With interstate projects, state highway has been including work zone and speed safety cameras to encourage drivers to slow down, he said.
“Unfortunately, we still have a lot of people that area speeding at very excessive rates. Those types of things lead to crashes and unfortunately, really this is about driver behavior a lot of the time,” Pines said.
Pines raised the issue when discussing the lane closures along I-70 near Saint Paul Road, noting that design adjustments were being made. Work recently began to replace two I-70 bridges there.
Redshirt freshman Kyndal Walker scored a career-high 20 points and she had plenty of help from Maryland teammates as the Terrapins defeated Murray State 99-67 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday.
AP Photo/Chris Seward
AP Photo/Chris Seward
AP Photo/Chris Seward
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Redshirt freshman Kyndal Walker scored a career-high 20 points and she had plenty of help from Maryland teammates as the Terrapins defeated Murray State 99-67 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday.
Mir McLean provided 19 points and 14 rebounds and Addi Mack added 18 points, while Yarden Garzon had 12 points and Saylor Poffenbarger added 10 points for fifth-seeded Maryland, which hammered the Racers on the boards.
“Clearly we had a lot more size on them,” Maryland coach Brenda Frese said. “I think it begins there. It also just comes down to will and a want and a desire.”
The Terrapins (24-8), who matched their highest point total in a regulation game this season with the aid of 50% shooting from the field, will meet the North Carolina-Western Illinois winner in Sunday’s second round.
Halli Poock poured in 27 points and Haven Ford and Keslyn Secrist each scored 17 points for No. 12-seed Murray State (31-4), which finished with a school-record win total even though its 15-game winning streak ended.
“I’m disappointed it had to end like this, but we have a lot to be proud of,” Poock said.
Maryland’s 24 offensive rebounds were more than Murray State’s overall rebounding total in what finished as a 51-21 gap on the boards. The Terrapins compiled 33 second-chance points.
“That’s been us all season,” McLean said. “We shoot very well and also rebound very well, which makes our shooters more confident to shoot because we can always get the ball back.”
Murray State coach Rechelle Turner was expecting a challenge on the boards.
“They were relentless on the glass,” Turner said. “I thought our first stop defense was pretty good, but it’s hard to defend 33 second-chance points, 24 offensive rebounds.”
The Racers outscored Maryland 24-22 in the third quarter.
“Our energy started picking up and stuff like that and just trying to chip away,” Ford said. “We left the third quarter with confidence.”
Maryland put it away with a 14-2 run to start the fourth quarter. Murray State had given up a season-high points total with more than four minutes remaining.
Keyed by Walker, Maryland reserves outscored Murray State’s bench players by 33-0.
Maryland’s lead grew to 38-19 in the second quarter on the way to a 51-35 halftime edge. The Terrapins shot 50% in the first half with a 25-10 rebounding advantage.
Secrist scored six straight points for Murray State and the Racers used an 8-2 spurt at the end of the third quarter to close within 73-59.
Freshmen are factors
Walker, Mack and Rainey Welson (7 points) combined to give Maryland 45 points from freshmen.
“It’s just nice to finally be out here and be in this moment,” Walker said. “So I was super excited, and I think it kind of just showed today. Just having the opportunity to go out there and play and just playing free and having fun.”
The trio shot a combined 17 for 33 from the floor.
Board business
McLean’s rebound total marked the most for a Terrapin in an NCAA Tournament game in nine years since Brionna Jones had 15 in a 2017 matchup with Oregon.
Poffenbarger’s 11 rebounds gave her a double-figure total for the seventh time this season and the fourth time in the last seven games.
Up Next
Maryland will play at least two NCAA Tournament games for the 20th time in the last 22 tournaments.
___
AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
Copyright
© 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
Spring at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore will bring a packed calendar of events from Easter through Memorial Day weekend, along with seasonal opportunities to see animals becoming more active as temperatures warm.
The zoo is encouraging visitors who plan to attend multiple events to consider a membership, which provides free access to some popular activities, including Bunny BonanZOO. Members also receive advance notice and discounted pricing for ticketed events. Membership also offers regular access to the zoo’s animals, including Big Mac, the newest addition to the giraffe herd, and a new red panda habitat scheduled to open this summer.
Event dates, details and registration information are available at MarylandZoo.org/events.
The zoo’s spring lineup begins with the Wedding Showcase on Saturday, March 21, from noon to 3 p.m. The open house is designed for couples planning their wedding who want to explore the zoo as a venue, including options for ceremonies surrounded by nature or receptions with a “wild twist.”
Bunny BonanZOO, presented by Mary Sue Candies, is scheduled for Friday through Sunday, April 3-5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The family event includes an egg hunt, entertainment, games, crafts and a bubble show. It is free with zoo admission.
Two ticketed events tied to Easter weekend are also planned. Breakfast with Bunny will be held Friday and Saturday, April 3 and 4, from 8 to 10 a.m., featuring breakfast, a photo opportunity with the Easter Bunny, spring crafts and animal ambassadors. Zoo admission is included in the ticket price. Pizza with Bunny follows a similar format and runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Maryland Zoo’s 150th Birthday Party is set for Tuesday, April 7, when the zoo officially turns 150 years old. The first 150 guests through the gate will receive a cupcake, and guests who share the zoo’s birthday will receive free admission. At noon, the zoo will add the ceremonial final layer to its LEGO birthday cake in Penguin Coast. The celebration is free with zoo admission.
An Evening of Zoo Stories is scheduled for Saturday, April 25, at 6:30 p.m. The event, hosted in the zoo’s historic Mansion House with Stoop Storytelling, invites people to share zoo-related memories before a live audience. A live band and animal ambassadors are also planned. Story submissions must be made in advance.
The spring schedule wraps into Memorial Day weekend with Brew at the Zoo, presented by M&T Bank, on Saturday and Sunday, May 23 and 24, from 1 to 7 p.m. The event includes bands, food and craft vendors, party games, and what the zoo describes as the region’s largest tasting event for beer, cider and seltzers.
The zoo said each event supports animal care and conservation. It also noted spring is a prime time for animal viewing, with grizzly bears waking up from hibernation and turtles, snakes and other cold-blooded animals becoming more visible as the weather warms. Visitors will also have a chance to see Big Mac, the zoo’s newest giraffe.
Howard County leaders are figuring out how to make Elkridge, Maryland, safer for everyone on the road, particularly for those walking or riding their bicycles.
The county recently released the results of two studies: the Elkridge Bicycle & Pedestrian Priority Area (BPPA) Plan and the Montgomery Road Multimodal Improvements Feasibility Study.
This work has been a priority for county leaders for years, with some projects already finished or in the works.
What the studies recommend
William Webb walks up and down Old Washington Road a lot, which includes a stretch without sidewalks. He said he hasn’t had any close calls, but there are a lot of drivers who press his luck.
“There are a lot of people out here racing and stuff like that, speeding, it’s too much of that,” Webb said.
He’s among several neighbors who said Elkridge could be more walker-friendly.
It’s why the results of the BPPA Plan are so important.
The county conducted the study in partnership with the State Highway Administration, focusing on major roads, including Route 1, Old Washington Road, and Montgomery Road.
The study suggests short-term fixes like adding raised crosswalks and a stop bar, while also looking at long-term solutions like high-visibility crosswalk markings.
The study also took into account future impacts, such as the expected extra traffic that will come when the new community center opens, which is set for the fall of 2027.
The study focusing on a stretch of Montgomery Road has four recommendations that include buffered bike lanes and a shared-use path, which is where walkers and bicyclists can use it simultaneously.
Howard County staff will come up with plans based on the recommendations and will bring them to the public for review when developed.
You can see the studies in full here and here.
What’s been done
Improving pedestrian and bicyclist safety has been a longtime priority for county leaders.
The fruit of that labor can be seen at Doctor Patel Drive and Route 1, where a traffic light and crosswalk system was installed.
County leaders broke ground on the project last summer.
Multiple people were hit and killed trying to cross this intersection in the past few years.
The intersection of Route 1 and Rowanberry Drive is another intersection getting upgrades, an inactive crosswalk system could be seen there Thursday.
Part of the upgrades there include building out a new sidewalk.
“Projects like these help us realize our shared vision of transforming Route 1 from a high-speed corridor with a history of pedestrian injuries, into a safer, more accessible and more pedestrian-friendly connection for all,” Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said during the Doctor Patel Drive project’s groundbreaking in June 2025.
Arlington Heights mayor says Springfield needs to get Bears stadium deal done in next two weeks
Absentee ballots can be mailed out, judge rules, in Trump-endorsed Indiana Senate race
Kentucky vs. Iowa State set as Joshua Jefferson injury lingers: Early odds set
California Baptist vs. Kansas prediction: March Madness 2026 odds, picks, best bet for Round of 64 Friday
Kentucky basketball vs Iowa State prediction, pick for NCAA game
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
Pritzker pushes prosecutions of Trump officials as part of Dem ‘Project 2029’ agenda
Iran’s Khamenei says enemy ‘defeated’ in written Nowruz message
Gold Trump coin moves forward after Treasury invokes rare authority
Meet the longtime biz partner of Ilhan Omar’s husband as questions swirl over her skyrocketing net worth
‘Nobody can blackmail us’: Leaders excoriate Orbán’s veto
-
Detroit, MI2 days agoDrummer Brian Pastoria, longtime Detroit music advocate, dies at 68
-
Oklahoma6 days agoFamily rallies around Oklahoma father after head-on crash
-
Nebraska1 week agoWildfire forces immediate evacuation order for Farnam residents
-
Georgia5 days agoHow ICE plans for a detention warehouse pushed a Georgia town to fight back | CNN Politics
-
Massachusetts1 week agoMassachusetts community colleges to launch apprenticeship degree programs – The Boston Globe
-
Alaska5 days agoPolice looking for man considered ‘armed and dangerous’
-
Colorado1 week ago‘It’s Not a Penalty’: Bednar Rips Officials For MacKinnon Ejection | Colorado Hockey Now
-
Southwest1 week agoTalarico reportedly knew Colbert interview wouldn’t air on TV before he left to film it