Maryland State Highway Administration Project Manager Vivian Berra-Figuereo

Prince Frederick, MD – Improving an intersection with potentially dangerous sight issues is the purpose of a project that the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) is preparing to start this year.

On Tuesday, Jan. 27 the project manager presented an overview of the plan, the MD 231/MD 765A Community Safety Enhancement Project. The two roads are perhaps better known as Church Street (Route 231) and Main Street (Route 765A).

In addition to line of sight challenges, SHA project manager Vivian Berra-Figuereo stated the area imperils pedestrians since there are inconsistent sidewalks on Main Street and no sidewalks on Church Street in the vicinity of the intersection.

“The project will install sidewalks where there are none now, and repair and replace sidewalks where they currently exist but are damaged or are not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act [ADA],” stated Calvert County Government principal planner Patricia Haddon in a memo to the county commissioners. “It will improve safety and address sight distance concerns for vehicular traffic at the intersection.”

Berra-Figuereo said the project will begin in March or April and should be completed by December. She advised the board the intersection will need to be closed for six to eight weeks during the project period.

County Administrator Terry Shannon added that the Department of Public Works will be replacing aged water and sewer infrastructure in the project area, a situation that will add to the time the detour is in effect. The department’s deputy director, Mark Willis, told the commissioners the utility project will be done before the road work begins. “We need to be in there in advance so we’re not stepping on each other’s toes,” said Willis. “It’s a two-part process and it [intersection] is not going to be closed for months.”

Willis estimated the intersection portion of the Public Works Department’s project could be completed in a few days.

“While we’re tearing it up let’s do it right,” declared Commissioner Mike Hart [R-District 1].

Berra-Figuereo reported the project design is complete, it was advertised early last month and the bid process opened Jan. 15.

Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com