ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore today highlighted the Moore-Miller Administration’s strategic transportation investments in Frederick County to grow the state’s economy and enhance safety along critical sections of U.S. 15. The construction project will help reduce the number of crashes and address daily traffic congestion.
“Today is a great day for the hundreds of thousands of people who travel on U.S. Route 15 in Frederick County. U.S. 15 is one of the most important pathways for commerce in our state, and it’s also one of the most dangerous. We knew we needed to act, and that’s exactly what we’ve done,” said Gov. Moore. “The funding for this project will ensure we prioritize basic highway safety, protect Marylanders, help workers travel from where they live to where opportunity lies, and provide much-needed infrastructure to help grow our economy.”
The governor’s proposed FY 2026 budget plan will add $420 million in additional annual transportation revenue to the Maryland Department of Transportation’s full Final Fiscal Year 2025-2030 Consolidated Transportation Program, benefiting local communities and businesses by fully funding long-awaited improvements to U.S. 15—an important link in the state’s transportation network. The recently announced transportation budget includes an investment of more than $160 million to address growing challenges with traffic congestion and a high rate of traffic collisions while also adding transportation jobs and growing Maryland’s economy.
“This critical project highlights the great investments we are committed to building across Maryland, and prioritize safety and reliability along busy, truck heavy corridors,” said Maryland Transportation Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld. “I look forward to working with the General Assembly to approve our proposed transportation revenue increases, which will go directly to funding critical safety projects across the state like U.S. 15 and grow Maryland’s economy.”
Along U.S. 15, construction plans include enhancing safety by improving vehicle conflict points where vehicles enter and exit the highway, and widening the section between Frederick Freeway and Liberty Road by adding a third travel lane in each direction. This section of U.S. 15 is known as a high crash area with 574 crashes being reported between 2020 and 2023. As the Frederick area experiences rapid growth, more than 150,000 daily vehicles are projected to use the four mile long corridor by 2044.
“Highway safety remains our top priority along with our commitment to working with our traffic safety partners to reduce injuries and fatalities on our roadways,” said Maryland State Police Superintendent Colonel Roland L. Butler, Jr. “While Maryland State Troopers often respond to crashes in these areas, prioritizing these improvements will ultimately enhance our ability to save lives.”
“The improvement of U.S. 15 is a critical priority for the Maryland Department of Transportation,” said State Highway Administrator Will Pines. “The State Highway Administration is eager to continue moving this project forward to improve safety and mobility, and to support interstate commerce and economic growth in Maryland.”
“Under Governor Moore’s leadership, the State of Maryland is prioritizing highway safety,” said Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater. “Improving U.S. 15 between I-70 and MD-26 is Frederick County’s top transportation priority because it is among the most dangerous stretches of road in the region. Over a 20-month period, our Division of Fire and Rescue Services transported a total of 146 patients to the hospital with injuries received in accidents along this stretch. By prioritizing investment in U.S. 15, Governor Moore will ensure fewer families have to get a phone call about a loved one being injured here.”
“We are grateful to Governor Moore for his commitment to funding the widening of U.S. Route 15 and for his investment in transportation infrastructure across the state,” said Maryland Transportation Builders and Materials Association President and Chief Executive Officer Mike Sakata. “When complete, the U.S. 15 project will make the daily commute safer for thousands of Marylanders. It will relieve traffic gridlock in one of our state’s most congested bottlenecks, which will lead to a stronger economy and a better quality of life for people throughout the region.”
To view the Maryland Department of Transportation’s full Final Fiscal Year 2025-2030 Consolidated Transportation Program, go toctp.maryland.gov. The Fiscal Year 2026 budget and additional revenue proposed by the governor requires approval by the Maryland General Assembly during the 2025 Legislative Session.