Md. Panel Backs Study Of Rte. 32 Widening

Flanagan was backed by the three Republican legislators who represent western Howard.

"If you don't do this, what you're doing is cutting off Carroll County's exit to the outside world," said Sen. Robert H. Kittleman. "It's not for Howard County people. It's not a local road; it's a major, major route."

State transportation officials say they have long envisioned Route 32 as a major thoroughfare to connect Western Maryland to areas farther east.

Currently, the highway is at least four lanes between Route 97 in Anne Arundel County and Clarksville. The Glendening administration stopped plans to expand the highway in western Howard.

Yesterday, the former governor refused to comment directly on the Ehrlich administration's decision but said research bears out the fears of environmentalists that adding lanes to highways encourages further development.

"The reality is it is going to make the situation worse from both land-use and congestion standpoints," Glendening said.

Glendening, however, discounted suggestions that his smart growth initiative is jeopardized by the board's decision.

Instead, he said, the law worked as planned because state transportation officials had to clear the hurdle of winning approval from the Board of Public Works.

If approved, the road expansion and safety upgrades will occur in phases that could take more than a decade, depending on funding. The first phase of the project, which would cost $30 million, would be the construction of a new interchange at Burnt Woods Road.