Town Center Boulevard Construction to Commence in Odenton

July 28, 2016

Anne Arundel County Executive Steve Schuh joined other county and community leaders today at the official groundbreaking marking the start of construction of Town Center Boulevard in Odenton. The project will create a biker/hiker trail, roadway and sidewalk from MD Route 175 though the MD Route 32 underpass to Town Center Boulevard in Seven Oaks.

“This groundbreaking is a milestone for Odenton. Town Center Boulevard will become the spine of this developing community and the new stretch of road will facilitate a stronger connection between Odenton’s neighborhoods and main street,” said Mr. Schuh. “Today we also celebrate our collaboration with the West County Chamber, its Odenton NOW supporters, the Halle Companies, and many other stakeholders. Our collective dedication made it possible to take this major step towards the full realization of the Odenton Master Plan.”

Planning for the new road began in 2010 when Anne Arundel County approved a private-public partnership with Halle Development through a Development Rights and Responsibilities Agreement (DRRA). In the document, Halle Development agreed to fund and construct the road project with the county providing impact fee credits to support construction.

The project scope includes four lanes and a median, a 10-foot wide multi-use trail on the eastern side and a 5-foot wide sidewalk for the length of the project. Construction also includes a bridge and a 16-foot arch culvert crossing over existing flood plain. Halle Development expects the road and bridge to be completed in approximately twelve months.

As part of the Odenton Town Center infrastructure package, the County Department of Public Works constructed a 36 inch water line in the right of way for Town Center Boulevard and greatly expanded sewer capacity by constructing sewer interceptor upgrades. The county provided $16 million to fund sewer and water improvements.

“While it has taken a long time to get to this point, we know that construction of Town Center Boulevard will not only spur development in the Core and Transition areas of the Odenton Town Center, but improve access to the MARC Station and MD170 for those wishing to avoid congested MD 175,” said West County Chamber CEO Claire Louder. “Combined with a much-improved Master Plan and a County Executive who understands the pivotal importance of our area, we see great opportunity in Odenton.”

The construction of Town Center Boulevard comes on the heels of the Anne Arundel County Council’s approval of the updated Odenton Master Plan in April. That plan revised development guidelines for the community in West County, the fastest growing area in the county. It includes standards for the historic district, green space, pathways for bikers and pedestrians and mixed use projects to be built next to the Odenton MARC station.

Odenton has seen almost a half dozen new projects come online in the past year. Commercial projects include the development of the All American Steakhouse and High’s gas station and convenience store along Route 175 and a new Giant supermarket farther down Route 175 at the Odenton Shopping Center. Two more multifamily housing developments, Broadstone 32 West and Novus at Odenton Town Center, have opened and are actively leasing. Both projects are located within blocks of the proposed Town Center Boulevard.