Gov. Martin O’Malley announced $3.7 million in transportation investments following the passage of the Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act to start construction of a new roundabout at MD 822 (University of Maryland Eastern Shore Boulevard) and MD 675 (Somerset Avenue) in Princess Anne, Somerset County.

This project will support nearly 50 jobs and construct a long-awaited safety improvement project for the Eastern Shore.

“Thanks to the better choices we’ve made to pass the Transportation Act, we can continue to create jobs for our families and advance crucial safety projects like this roundabout across the State,” said O’Malley.

Construction of the roundabout is scheduled to begin in late fall 2013. To enhance pedestrian safety, this project also will provide new sidewalks along MD 675 from the roundabout to MD 362 (Mt. Vernon Road). Additionally, the project includes drainage improvements and modernizing stormwater treatment facilities.

“The UMES-Somerset Avenue Roundabout Project demonstrates how our citizens, towns, counties and the state government achieve success by working together,” said Sen. Jim Mathias. “In this project, years of pedestrian safety concerns, as well as traffic issues affecting the residents of Princess Anne and students of UMES, and serious storm water management issues that have been problematic to the region for many years have been remedied. I’m very pleased of our accomplishments and grateful the funds have been made available for this project to become a reality.”

When complete in fall 2014, the new roundabout will enhance the safety of pedestrian and motorists traveling to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), which has approximately 4,500 students. Motorists will continue to have access along UMES Boulevard while the roundabout and related utility work is under way.

“These long-awaited and critical safety improvements are celebrated by all of us who call Princess Anne our home,” said Del. Charles Otto. “For more than 20 years, this has been a priority, and I applaud everyone who worked to get the funding to move this project forward.”

The roundabout project will require moving several water and sewer lines. The town of Princess Anne has applied for a $250,000 Community Development Block Grant from the state to cover the cost of moving the local utility lines to enable the project to move forward. The total cost of the roundabout and sidewalk improvements, including right-of-way, design and construction, is $4.1 million.

“Princess Anne is a growing community and infrastructure sits at the top of our list of things to get done,” said Garland Hayward, president of the Princess Anne town commissioners. “On behalf of all of Princess Anne and UMES, I can’t express how grateful we are to the state for making these much needed safety improvements possible.”

“Improved access to our campus and the safety of our students, who must walk along roads with no sidewalks, have been long-standing concerns of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore,” said UMES President Juliette Bell. “We are delighted that this project will be underway soon and extremely grateful to Gov. O’Malley and the state for making this funding possible.”

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