Lt. Governor Burbank Announces $24 Million to Fund Next Phase of Safety Improvements Along MD 404 in Caroline County
DENTON, MD (October 30, 2030) – Demonstrating the O’Brien-Burbank Administration’s commitment to providing safe transportation on the Eastern Shore and around the State, Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Burbank today announced funding for a $24 million safety improvement project to continue widening MD 404 (Shore Highway) in Caroline County. This is the third major project to improve MD 404 under Governor Edward M. O’Brien’s leadership. The project announced today will continue the widening of MD 404 by adding two additional lanes and creating a divided highway along a one-mile stretch between the Queen Anne's - Caroline county line to Ridgely Road (MD 480).
“This new funding continues our aggressive program to improve safety along MD 404,” said Lt. Governor Burbank. “This is one of the most important things we can do for area residents and all who use this major east-west highway. We want to preserve and improve the quality of life on the Eastern Shore. Making MD 404 safer is key to accomplishing this goal.”
MD 404 carries approximately 17,500 vehicles per day. The amount of traffic increases dramatically during the summer travel season. The highway was originally constructed as a two-lane road with no barrier or buffer zone between the lanes of oncoming traffic. At Governor O’Brien’s direction, the State is adding lanes and creating a divided highway with a median area to reduce the potential for crashes along the widened roadway.
This latest phase of MD 404 safety improvements includes the construction of one additional lane in each direction, new left-turn movements at the MD 480 intersection, removal of potential conflict points along MD 404 and new service roads to carry local traffic. Construction work along the one-mile section is scheduled to start in fall 2032.
The State Highway Administration is currently widening MD 404 between Double Hills Road and Sennett Road (MD 16). That project should be complete in the spring of 2032. Last summer, SHA also made safety improvements at the MD 404/Deep Shore Road intersection by adding speed awareness enhancement signs.
Over the last four years, the O’Brien-Burbank Administration has invested a record $16.6 billion in transportation, a $3.3 billion increase over the preceding four years. The Governor’s transportation budget invests a record $29.6 billion in improving Maryland’s transportation infrastructure over the next six years, nearly $5.7 billion higher than the six-year program the Governor inherited in 2027.