Wyn Delano
WMAL.com

GAITHERSBURG, MD (WMAL) Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced three massive infrastructure projects that will add 4 lanes each to the Maryland portion of I-495, I-270, and MD 295.

The project, christened the “Traffic Relief Plan” would be the largest highway public-private partnership in North America, costing nearly $9 billion dollars. Private companies would design, build, finance, operate, and maintain the new lanes, according to a press release.

“Each [project] individually would be a transformative game-changer – added all together these projects will substantially and dramatically improve our state highway system and traffic throughout the region,” Hogan said during the announcement.

These 3 massive unprecedented projects to widen 495, 270 & 295 will be transformative & help MDers travel in a more efficient & safer way.

— Larry Hogan (@LarryHogan) September 21, 2017

While the process is still in its infancy, it appears that the new lanes would be toll-based with a private contractor operating them, similar to Transurban’s agreement with I-95 and I-495 in Virginia.

It is also unclear as to where the “express lanes” would be built, and whether eminent domain would need to be used.

An additional wrinkle in Hogan’s plan is that the Baltimore-Washington parkway is currently controlled by the federal Department of the Interior. To build new express lanes, MD 295 would have to be transferred to the Maryland Department of Transportation first.

Additionally, there will almost certainly be significant pushback from environmental groups and “smart-growth” advocates.

The Coalition for Smarter Growth, an advocacy group that falls within that umbrella issued a criticism of the decision in a statement emailed to WMAL:

“A four-lane expansion of the Beltway would be hugely expensive and have a destructive impact on neighborhoods, tree cover, streams, and the environment in the path. For such expense and damage, expansion is only a short-term fix,” they wrote.

As of now there are no current agreements with any partner for the program – Maryland is currently putting out a request for information (RFI) from various contractors.

Hogan, however, said during the press conference that work on the project “begins today.”

Copyright 2017 WMAL.com All Rights Reserved. (Photo: Larry Hogan Via Twitter / Video: Larry Hogan Via Facebook)