The chosen route, the southern or master plan alignment, will skip south of Laurel, instead of leading right through the city as the northern alignment would have.

"The ICC is going to be built anyway," said Laurel City Councilman Michael Sarich (Ward 2). "This clearly is the best route for Laurel... The interests of the constituents of Laurel were taken care of."

As a resident and businessman in Laurel, Sarich said he also appreciated how the road would facilitate doing business in Montgomery County, but he was concerned about the cost of tolls, which state officials have said would be necessary to fund the $2-billion project.

Gov. Robert Ehrlich made the route selection on July 11.

Plans for the 18-mile ICC have been on the books for decades as a way to connect Interstate 270 in Montgomery County with Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1 in Laurel.

But opposition to the road has run strong for nearly just as long, particularly in West Laurel, where, residents have expressed opposition to both ICC alignments, not just the northern route that would have cut through their community.

The road's price tag and path through Paint Branch parkland are major concerns for West Laurel residents, said West Laurel Civic Association Vice President and President-elect Mary Lehman.

"You have to be honest in admitting some level of relief that it's not going to be the northern alignment," Lehman said. "[But] people just don't see they would get anything from it for that kind of money."

Aside from the financial and environmental concerns, many opponents argue that transportation alternatives should be studied, such as mass transit.

"In the long run, the goal of alleviating metro congestion is a really good one," said Phil Held of Laurel. "In the practical application... the improvements it will make to Laurel for me are not important enough for the damage that it will do."

But supporters of the road remain confident it is worth the price in both money and environmental impact, because of its ability to improve residents' quality of life. Its benefits would include shortened commute times, increased home values and attraction to businesses, said state Sen. John Giannetti (D-Dist.21) of Laurel.

"I think it's great [and] long overdue," said Pat Walsh of Laurel. "I'm hoping that development along that road is controlled to some degree, but the road is needed."

Laurel Mayor Craig Moe said the city stood by its 2003 resolution to support the southern ICC route, provided it continued all the way to Route 1. "We understand there are two sides," he said. "We're happy that it's moving forward. We're hoping that it relieves some of the congestion in and around the city."