(Aug. 31, 2017) Stormwater improvements on William Street in Berlin hit a small snag and will pause for a few days, as town officials gather information for the state.
Town Administrator Laura Allen said officials from the State Highway Administration asked for some additional information on the project before signing off, causing the delay.
“We’re still working through some of those issues, so we’re not actually going to start the project until after school starts, probably Sept. 6 or 7,” Allen said.
Eventually, the work will include expansion of the existing culvert and construction of a small offline wetland, or stormwater retention pond. The project will require William Street between Cedar Avenue and Powellton Avenue to be closed to through traffic for several weeks.
Partial road closures occurred on William Street two weeks ago because of planned water and sewer repairs. When crews hit an unmarked gas main, however, work had to be stopped and about 10 people were evacuated for several hours.
No injuries occurred, but Allen said those repairs would resume closer to the start of the stormwater improvements.
“It makes no sense to do that and the [stormwater] part substantially later,” she said.
As for foot traffic on William Street, a busy thoroughfare, Allen said the town would establish a pathway along the fence of the power plant to bypass portions of the sidewalk that will have to be closed.
“We’re going to create a little pedestrian walkway so that folks can still have the access that they’re looking for when they walk around town,” she said. “The contractor will be putting that down. Before we get construction going, we’ll have that in place.”
Allen said the town is working with Maryland Coastal Bays on a grant to pay for part the project, given through the Environmental Protection Agency and believed to be about $10,000. The town has used nearly $2 million in state and federal grant money to fund its stormwater projects during the last several years.
Town Administrator Laura Allen said officials from the State Highway Administration asked for some additional information on the project before signing off, causing the delay.
“We’re still working through some of those issues, so we’re not actually going to start the project until after school starts, probably Sept. 6 or 7,” Allen said.
Eventually, the work will include expansion of the existing culvert and construction of a small offline wetland, or stormwater retention pond. The project will require William Street between Cedar Avenue and Powellton Avenue to be closed to through traffic for several weeks.
Partial road closures occurred on William Street two weeks ago because of planned water and sewer repairs. When crews hit an unmarked gas main, however, work had to be stopped and about 10 people were evacuated for several hours.
No injuries occurred, but Allen said those repairs would resume closer to the start of the stormwater improvements.
“It makes no sense to do that and the [stormwater] part substantially later,” she said.
As for foot traffic on William Street, a busy thoroughfare, Allen said the town would establish a pathway along the fence of the power plant to bypass portions of the sidewalk that will have to be closed.
“We’re going to create a little pedestrian walkway so that folks can still have the access that they’re looking for when they walk around town,” she said. “The contractor will be putting that down. Before we get construction going, we’ll have that in place.”
Allen said the town is working with Maryland Coastal Bays on a grant to pay for part the project, given through the Environmental Protection Agency and believed to be about $10,000. The town has used nearly $2 million in state and federal grant money to fund its stormwater projects during the last several years.