By Sarah Miller, The County Times
HOLLYWOOD, Md. — Anybody wondering about what the construction going on next to Tom Hodges Auto now has an answer – a road connecting Mervell Dean Road to Route 235 is being built.
The road is being funded by Tom Hodges, the owner of the car dealership, who will be deeding it back to the county once it is finished.
“It should be a nice access for local traffic,” Hodges said.
Because the road, which will be called Tom Hodges Drive, will be a public road owned by the county, school busses and other traffic will be allowed to use it. Hodges said he hopes it will make Route 235 safer, and make commuting more convenient for the public.
The road will also provide direct access to Tom Hodges Auto from Route 235.
In total, Hodges said he will be donating a half acre of land to St. Mary’s County.
Hodges said he first started seeking permission from the State Highway Administration in 2004 to build a connector road between Mervell Dean Road and Route 235.
“I wanted to keep the construction job local,” Hodges said.
Because of that, he said he only offered the bid to local contractors.
The Great Mills Trading Post is doing the construction. A contractor in Waldorf did the engineering for the road. He said the road is near to being completed and he hopes to have it open in the early spring, when they can apply the final layer of asphalt.
He said the community has been good to him and his business, and he wanted to give something back. He sees the road as a way to accomplish that goal.
“I really believe it will be a help to the community and the county,” Hodges said.