Oakland Mills Road Complete Street Project Underway In Howard Co., Expect Lane Closures

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The Oakland Mills Road Complete Street project has started and will be done in two phases. Weather permitting, it will be completed by mid-September. The project is designed to improve pedestrian access and safety while providing roadway improvements along Oakland Mills Road in Columbia.

“This latest Complete Street improvement project will make it safer and easier for residents of our Oakland Mills and Owen Brown communities to get out and about, walking and biking safely to their favorite stores and restaurants, their local schools, parks and so much more,” Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said. “This is exactly the kind of change that we envisioned with our Complete Streets policy to make Howard County a more multi-modal community.”

During the first phase, which is now underway, improvements will be made to the curbs, sidewalks and pedestrian ramps at or near the following Oakland Mills Road intersections: Kilimanjaro Road/Helen Dorsey Way; Farewell Road; Dawn Day Drive/Sewells Orchard Drive; Fairmead Lane/Loring Drive; Malindy Circle; Malindy Circle/Homespun Drive; Dasher Court; Downdale Place; and Dobbin Road. Weather permitting, this phase of the project is expected to be completed by mid-June.

As soon as the first phase has wrapped up, crews will begin working along Oakland Mills Road from Old Montgomery Road to Dobbin Road. During this phase, Oakland Mills Road will be reconfigured with the addition of a three-lane cross section with a center turn lane. Two-way protected bike lanes will also be added, as will new pedestrian crossings and existing pedestrian crossings will be improved. These enhancements are expected to reduce vehicular speed along the roadway, improving safety for all road users. The roadway will also be resurfaced as part of the project.

Signs and temporary traffic control devices will be in place to alert motorists of the project, since temporary lane shifts and single lane closures can be expected during construction hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.