La Plata, MD – Charles County is hoping for a June 19 reopening of the Indian Head Rail Trail, sections of which have been temporarily closed by the installation of a reclaimed water line intended to service the future Competitive Power Ventures (CPV) electrical power plant.

The Charles County Commissioners received an update Tuesday, Feb. 24 on progress of the pipeline along certain sections of the trail. Bill Shreve, director of Charles County Public Works, told the board that Reliable Construction, a contractor hired by CPV, has been installing the water line since September.

Five miles of the trail is still open to public use, he said, adding that the water reclamation pipeline is supposed to be completed by this summer.

He said Reliable is 41 percent through the second phase of a five-phase project.
“They’re tunneling under surfaces and drilling pipe, it’s not an easy construction technique,” Shreve explained. “The idea is to place the line 15 to 19 feet in the ground.”

He noted construction was slated for the winter months because, “We wanted construction to occur when we have minimal travel on the trail.”

Shreve added that once the pipeline is installed it would have to be tested for pressure.

“If they don’t get the compaction right it could cause ripples in the trail,” he said.

Phases Six, Seven and Eight of the project do not impact the trail.

“We anticipate starting construction later in March, so the construction can be completed by next winter,” Shreve said.

He added that as a condition of the work the contractor would restore all disturbed areas to their preconstruction condition, saying, “June 19 is our best estimate for completion, which allows the various sections of the trail to be open at one time.”

“June 19 is a lot better news than I was expecting,” Charles County Commissioner Vice President Ken Robinson [D – District 1] said. “I am curious why we wouldn’t open it up in phases.”

“Phasing was the original intent,” said Thomas Roland, chief of Parks and Grounds. “Then when we looked at it, the dates were so close together, it seemed to us easier to open it all at one time.”

Construction of the power plant is expected to be completed by the spring of 2016.

Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com