Maryland’s state highway administration (SHA) has announced the start of construction of a new $74.8m interchange project in Montgomery County.

The project has received more than $14m from the county and will replace the existing MD 97 (Georgia Avenue) at Randolph Road signalised intersection.

State governor Martin O’Malley said the transportation project will relieve congestion, improve safety and create jobs.

"This project will also help us meet our goals of doubling transit ridership and reducing Maryland’s greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2020. By extending the Glenmont greenway trail, cyclists and transit users will have easier access to the Glenmont metro station," O’Malley said.

"This project will also help us meet our goals of doubling transit ridership and reducing Maryland’s greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2020."

In addition to replacing the existing Georgia Avenue/Randolph Road signalised intersection, the project involves building an additional through lane along Georgia Avenue for a total of three through lanes in each direction, in addition to new pavements and an extension of the Glenmont greenway trail on the west side of Georgia Avenue.

Lt governor Anthony G Brown said: "MD 97 and Randolph Road are both critical roadways in Montgomery County, used by 86,000 drivers each day, and constructing this new interchange will improve safety and allow families to spend more time together and less time stuck in traffic."

The programme will ease congestion and improve traffic safety by separating through traffic by lowering Randolph Road approximately 25ft under Georgia Avenue, which will remove traffic conflict points and deliver free-flow traffic on Randolph Road through the interchange.

The project is scheduled to be completed in winter 2016, if weather permits.