The following article was submitted by County Councilman David Marks about a connect from MD 43 to Earls Road in Middle River
In 2023, as soon as I became Councilman for Middle River, I was forced to address a proposed Planned Unit Development at the Lafarge Quarry, one of the largest undeveloped sites in eastern Baltimore County. The Planned Unit Development advanced despite widespread concerns that truck traffic would spill onto local routes like Ebenezer Road.
With support from the community and my colleagues on the Baltimore County Council, the Lafarge Quarry Planned Unit Development was stopped.
I subsequently passed legislation that helps set aside 60 percent of that area as green space with light uses. We inserted language into Baltimore County’s Master Plan that advances the idea of a direct connection to White Marsh Boulevard from Earls Road, and we passed legislation that blocks uses along Earls Road within the MD Overlay Zone that could intensify trucking.
Make no mistake—the direct connection between Earls Road and White Marsh Boulevard must be built. It’s important for jobs and commerce, but also for safety. There have been too few instances where trucks get stuck on the narrow, winding paths of Earls and Ebenezer Roads, disrupting traffic and imperiling the safety of other motorists.
Over the coming months, our office will be pushing hard to advance a direct connection between Earls and Bengies Roads and White Marsh Boulevard, possibly through the Tangier Drive area. We will be engaging the private sector, community organizations such as the Essex-Middle River Civic Council, Baltimore County Government, and our state legislators to create momentum for this desperately-needed connection.
A direct connection to MD 43 is one of many infrastructure projects that should have been completed many years ago. It is one of the most important investments we can make in eastern Baltimore County, along with improved connections between Pulaski Highway and Philadelphia Road and safety modifications to Eastern Avenue. Please stay informed about opportunities to support these projects by following my Council Facebook page at www.facebook.com/countycouncilmandavidmarks
