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County and MDOT press ahead on I‑81 widening; county urges faster work as safety concerns persist
Summary
Maryland Department of Transportation officials told Washington County leaders that construction for I‑81 phase 2a is scheduled to start in 2027 and phase 2b in 2028, while county leaders pressed MDOT to accelerate later phases and to address safety and construction‑management concerns.
Maryland Department of Transportation officials told Washington County leaders at a transportation priorities meeting that design work on the Interstate 81 widening is advancing and that construction for phase 2a is scheduled to begin in 2027, with phase 2b expected to start in 2028.
The project, which MDOT is advancing in phases, is central to county officials’ safety and congestion concerns along the 12‑mile stretch where 10 interchanges and about 30% truck traffic create frequent incidents. Washington County leaders said they want phases 3 and 4 moved forward sooner to address crashes, serious injuries and recurring bottlenecks.
MDOT officials described recent steps in the design process and explained why the project has been split into subphases. Maryland State Highway Administrator Will Pines said the department completed a semifinal design review and has been conducting required field work such as geotechnical borings. Pines said negotiations with CSX about…
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