Danielle Ryan
(6/14) The Main Street square revitalization project has officially begun with repair work on the bridge over Flat Run. This bridge repair is the beginning of a $4.3 million project to replace MD 140 (East Main Street) Bridge over Flat Run and sidewalk construction along MD 140 between North Avenue and Silo Hill Road. The bridge over Flat Run will be completely replaced
during this time.
The 84-year-old steel girder bridge is safe, but has out-lived its useful life. In addition to replacing the bridge, the State Highway Administration (SHA) will also realign the road to match the new bridge approaches and construction of storm water management facilities. The project, in its entirety, is projected to be complete by summer 2018.
The sidewalk construction portion of the project kicked off on June 5. Flagging operations for any closures can be expected between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.. A pedestrian footbridge, with a paved asphalt path, has been constructed over Flat Run and must be utilized by pedestrians wishing to walk this stretch because the sidewalk on the north side is closed during construction.
Water line work on the square will occur at the end of June. The contractor originally presented town with the weekend of June 24th, but town staff requested another time, as that would have interfered with Heritage Days. Work will begin on June 20 at 9 a.m. through 3 p.m. and will pick back up the following day at 9 a.m. Traffic will be detoured Westbound Federal
Avenue to DePaul Street, and Eastbound Jamison to W. North Alley. Water will be shut off at 8 a.m. on June 21 until work is completed.
This Main Street Revitalization project, in its entirety, includes an upgrade to the existing sidewalks and crosswalks (which will be brick), the reconstruction of parking on the square, the reconstruction of sidewalk ramps which will now be ADA compliant, a reconstruction of the curbs, gutters and the traffic signal, resurfacing the intersection, landscaping and street
tree replacement. The project, when finished, will offer connectivity of sidewalks from the east point of Silo Hills Road to the west point of the town with ADA compliant sidewalks. The project is just beginning, and there is a lot of work yet to be done.
In other news, the community pool construction has yet to start. As of June 5, the contractor for the project, Make N Waves, was awaiting the plan approval from the county, which was submitted May 17. The contractor is also waiting for the approval from the Health Department, which could take up to a month to receive. Make N Waves is still planning on having the pool
completed by their contracted date and open for community use by summer 2018.
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