A $116 million interchange now being constructed on Maryland Route 210 is designed to eliminate the dangerous intersection between Kerby Hill Road and the six lanes of asphalt known locally as the "Highway of Death."
But the project to improved Rt. 210 scheduled for completion in 2020 comes too late for 5-year-old-twins Alexander and Rosalie Mejia, and their 1-year- old brother Isaac Mejia, all of Falls Church, Virginia.
The children died and and their parents were critically injured while riding in a small sedan that was hit from behind by a pickup truck as traffic stopped or slowed for a traffic light near the notorious intersection at about 9:40 pm Sunday.
Two other vehicles were struck.
"We grieve with the community, as well as those affected by last Sunday’s horrific crash", said Maryland State Highway Administration spokesperson Shantee Felix, in a written statement issued by the agency.
There have been at least 60 people killed on the highway since 2010. The 6-lane road is distinguished by heavy traffic and long straightaways that encourage speeding between traffic lights. Motorists suffer through long delays at the lights to allow cycles of left turns off the highway onto busy side roads.
The new interchange is the most expensive project in a long list of safety improvements installed or planned for Rt. 210, which is also called Indian Head Highway.
Felix provided the following list:
• Highway lighting systems were evaluated and upgraded at the MD 210/Farmington Road intersection to provide increased illumination. MDOT SHA is also provided additional lighting at the MD 210/Old Fort Road (north) intersection, as well as the MD 210/Talbert Drive/Salisbury Drive intersection. The existing signals, in place since MD 210 was originally constructed, will be converted to newer, more efficient and brighter LED lighting.
• MDOT SHA has resurfaced northbound MD 210 from Farmington Lane to Old Fort Road, which will enhance braking action for vehicles, as well as add new pavement markings for increased visibility.
• MDOT SHA has replaced and upgrading road signs on the entire MD 210 corridor between the Charles County line to the Capital Beltway.
In addition, the Maryland General Assembly approved the installation of a speed camera at the intersection Old Fort Road, which went into operation in late October.
When it's completed in the summer of 2020, The Kerby Hill Road interchange will eliminate the two traffic lights on Rt. 210 closest to the Capital Beltway by the construction of an overpass for Kerby Hill and Livingston Road as well as a service road to connect addresses near the complex intersection.