Clear Spring residents urge county, state action after I-70 closures divert heavy traffic onto local roads

CLEAR SPRING, Md. — Clear Spring residents and town officials told the Washington County Board of Commissioners that detours related to construction on Interstate 70 are routing tractor-trailers and other heavy traffic onto narrow county roads, damaging shoulders and guardrails and hurting local events and businesses.

"I'm disappointed that I'm here. That as a citizen of Clear Spring, I had to come to Hagerstown to see my county commissioners," Steven Blickenstaff, mayor of Clear Spring, said during public comment. Blickenstaff and other residents described heavy truck traffic using routes such as Kemp's Mill Road, Rockdale Road, Broadfording Road and portions of Maryland 68 as detours around work on I-70 and a closed bridge at Route 40.

The concern centers on traffic that the speakers said was not expected to use these narrower, shoulderless county roads. Residents reported damaged guardrails and shoulders, drivers who could not negotiate tight turns, and a drop in attendance at local events. Blickenstaff described one local fundraiser and a recent "fall fest" that saw reduced participation: "We had a 100 people come in to receive the coin. But we only had 50 go out to … get their little passport stamp," he said, adding that the bridge closure "did hurt our event."

County staff told the meeting that they and the county Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) have raised the problem with the State Highway Administration and Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) and are pursuing options with state highway officials. A county representative said the TAC and the county highways department are discussing detour routing and seeking a plan that routes traffic to roads built for heavier use.

Speakers at the meeting described specific local impacts: shoulder damage on Broadfooting Road, guardrail damage on Kemp's Mill Road, and truckers getting stuck or unable to make turns near businesses such as Sweet S— (as named in public comment). One resident who said they had been directing traffic described blocking Route 40 to help a trucker who could not complete a turn and assisting drivers trying to back up in tight downtown spaces.

County officials reported they had asked the state for funding to repair or replace damage caused by the detours. The county also said MDOT officials have indicated incentives in the construction contract to speed work and that MDOT has promised the Route 40 bridge will be open before the start of the next school year in September, though no firm date was given on the record.

The meeting also covered related local items raised by Clear Spring officials: the town's upcoming 250th anniversary celebration, an agreement that Clear Spring will host an early-voting site in the next election, and the Clear Spring Historical Society's effort to move a log barn built in 1830. Town leaders said they have scheduled monthly events (third Sunday of each month) and will hold fireworks July 3 as part of anniversary programming; they also said coin distribution for the anniversary is underway at events.

Discussion at the meeting included expressions of frustration about public notice for traffic changes, reports that some county residents felt state officials have been slow to respond, and a county administrator's acknowledgment of the problem: "We do feel your pain. We're doing everything we can to address it with the state and, trying to move the project along as quickly as we can," the County Administrator said.

The Board did not take any new formal policy votes on detour routing or repair funding during the public-comment portion. The Transportation Advisory Committee and county engineering staff (Scott Hobbs, director of engineering, was named in public remarks) were identified as the parties continuing to analyze detour routing and infrastructure impacts.

Votes at the meeting were limited to routine business: a motion to adjourn was made and seconded and carried by voice vote.

The public comment period captured local leaders urging more coordination with MDOT and additional state support for road repairs, and county staff said they will continue discussions with state highway officials and the TAC to identify detour routes more suitable for heavy vehicles and to pursue funds for repairs. The county and local officials also discussed operational plans for the 250th anniversary events to reduce traffic conflicts, including use of multiple entrances to the county agricultural center to separate inbound and outbound flow.

No formal timetable or dollar amounts for repair work were adopted at the meeting, and the county did not announce any new state commitments beyond the MDOT representatives' general assurances about incentives and timing tied to the Route 40 bridge contract.

Adjournment motion: A motion for adjournment was made, seconded and approved by voice vote; no roll-call tally with member names was recorded in the transcript.