Great Mills Traffic Relief Coming: MD 5 Road Widening And Bridge Replacement Funded

GREAT MILLS, Md. – The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the State Highway Administration have announced $32.4 million in the department’s Draft Fiscal Year 2026-2031 Consolidated Transportation Program for safety and accessibility improvements on MD 5 (Point Lookout Road) in St. Mary’s County.

“Improving safety and mobility for all roadway users – whether they travel by car, bicycle or on foot – is at the heart of MDOT’s commitment to communities,” said Acting Maryland Transportation Secretary Samantha J. Biddle. “The Great Mills area continues to experience substantial residential and commercial growth, and this project will help accommodate that growth and enhance safety for residents and workers who use MD 5 every day.”

The MD 5 project has been identified as a priority for the county. It is aided by a $5 million federal contribution secured by U.S. Congressman Steny Hoyer (MD-5th District) and the Maryland Congressional Delegation. Utility relocations are underway and construction is expected to begin in 2027.

“Every element of our transportation network is critical to ensure every Marylander has access to work, school, shopping, health care, recreation and other opportunities that enhance our quality of life,” said State Highway Administrator Will Pines, who joined state and local officials Wednesday at an event on MD 5 at the bridge over St. Mary’s River. “The MD 5 Great Mills project is a great example of how we can advance those goals and support the state’s economic vitality.”

Improvements will enhance safety and operations along a .7-mile section of MD 5 with upgrades from MD 471 (Indian Bridge Road) to MD 246 (Great Mills Road), including:

• replacement of the St. Mary’s River bridge, which is 112 years old and was last reconstructed in the 1950s;
• widening and resurfacing MD 5 from a two-lane road to a four-lane undivided roadway;
• addition of a 5-foot-wide bicycle lane;
• addition of 5-foot-wide sidewalks along both sides of MD 5 along with Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant ramps;
• installation of pedestrian crossing signals and
• installation of drainage improvements and new stormwater management facilities.

MD 5 carries more than 30,000 vehicles per day and is a major north-south route for residents, commuters and commercial traffic to major employment centers such as Patuxent River Naval Air Station, as well as local schools and other employers in St. Mary’s County. The improvement project will support current and anticipated growth in Great Mills and neighboring areas of Lexington Park and Leonardtown.

“This is going to have a direct impact on so many people each and every single solitary day,” said State Delegate Brian Crosby, who attended Wednesday’s event and represents St. Mary’s County in District 29B. “For our growing community I really do think, countywide, this is the No. 1 infrastructure project and the most important infrastructure project to improve the citizens’ quality of life.”

“We are looking forward to getting this project started,” added State Delegate Todd Morgan, District 29C, who represents St. Mary’s and Calvert counties.

The improvements on MD 5 reinforce MDOT’s Complete Streets policy as well as its Serious About Safety initiative, a department-wide focus to drive safety goals and save lives.

With additional resources provided by the Moore-Miller Administration, MDOT is investing in projects and initiatives that improve the safety and reliability of our network, spur economic growth and ensure our transportation system is in a state of good repair.

More information about the project is available on its Project Portal page here. To view MDOT’s Draft Fiscal Year 2026-2031 Consolidated Transportation Program, visit here. 

For a list of all major State Highway Administration projects, visit Project Portal or the homepage at roads.maryland.gov. For a look at real-time traffic conditions, go to chart.maryland.gov.