County Highway Superintendent Amber Toll told the Howard County Council that the department received Community Crossings matching grant funds and asked the council to appropriate those monies so resurfacing and milling projects can proceed.

Toll said crews have already started milling and repaving and are working on Alto Road, where an emergency replacement was required after a large elliptical culvert failed. She described the compromised structure as “7 foot tall and 12 foot wide” and said crews had set the first section of replacement pipe on the day of the meeting; she expected to have that piece set by week’s end and then proceed with patching, guardrail and other repairs.

The appropriation will place the grant match into the correct line items so the county can invoice and use the funds. Toll said the size of the Alto Road structure made the emergency replacement logistically challenging and that the highway department has learned from the work as it proceeds.

The council approved the additional appropriation for highway projects as part of its broader vote on appropriations.