County Road Work Planned Thanks To Stimulus Funding

SNOW HILL - More stimulus funding will allow Worcester County to resurface portions of three roads in the county.

In late May, Worcester County learned from the Maryland State Highway Administration that additional federal stimulus funds were coming its way.

'Worcester County has been allocated $1.39 million for road resurfacing and safety improvements,' Public Works Director John Tustin said.

As a result, the county plans to resurface two miles of Seahawk Rd. ($230,000), almost seven miles of Nassawango Rd. ($792,000), and nearly three miles of St. Luke's Rd. ($317,000). A total of 11.5 miles will be resurfaced.

The Seahawk Rd. work will stretch from Route 50 to Sinepuxent Rd.

Work on Nassawango Rd. will begin at Route 12 and continue almost to Scotty Rd.

The first part of the resurfacing of St. Luke's Rd. will begin at Route 12 and stretch to mail box #2324, with the second portion beginning at a joint near a tax ditch and continuing all the way to Stevens Rd, according to the county. Staff also plans to go after money for safety improvements and guardrails.

The county is not required to hire contractors from Maryland to resurface the roads.

In other road-related news, Ocean Pines will now be able to pursue federal and state money for bridge repairs.

The Ocean Pines Association (OPA) asked Worcester County to accept an easement on the bridge at Clubhouse Dr., the Ocean Parkway bridge south of the Clubhouse Drive intersection and the North Gate bridge.

The bridges on and near Clubhouse Drive need repair, said Tustin.

'They're looking for funding sources,' Tustin said.

The OPA might be eligible for Maryland funding to maintain or rehabilitate the bridges if they are added to the county roads inventory.

The responsibility for the bridge maintenance and repair would still lie with the OPA, not the county.

'This doesn't cost the county anything. It makes Ocean Pines eligible for state and federal money,' said Commissioner Judy Boggs.

'This is an issue of public safety,' said Commissioner Linda Busick.

The commissioners voted unanimously to approve the OPA's request.