The following is an op/ed piece from Councilman David Marks:

When I ran for office in 2010, I stood with a sign at the corner of Harford and Joppa Roads that read “Fix This Intersection.” This junction of two major corridors has been gridlocked for decades, and rebuilding the intersection has been a top priority since I was elected.

I am very pleased that after ten years, the State Highway Administration will begin work to expand and improve this corner.

The bulk of the work includes adding a third through-lane along southbound Harford Road and a third through-lane along westbound Joppa Road for about 700 feet in every direction. Signals will be updated, as well as ramps, sidewalks, signage, and driveways.

Work will begin in 2020 and conclude by late 2022. To accommodate motorists, construction will occur after rush hour.

As a freshman Councilman in 2012, I brokered an agreement between the state, county, Carney Improvement Association, and the developer of the CVS that helped led to these improvements. The CVS developer committed to donating right-of-way that could be used for the project.

It has taken far too long for work to start, but I am excited we are closer to breaking the bottleneck at this intersection. I would like to thank my partners in the state and local governments, as well as the Carney Improvement Association, for their support–and in advance, would like to thank the public for patience over the next two years.