Carroll County officials discuss multi-step proposal to widen Stafford Ridge Road, seek engineering study

A member of the Carroll County fiscal court presented a proposal Sept. 9 to widen approximately 2.65 miles of Stafford Ridge Road and asked the court to authorize planning and engineering work toward a 2026 construction season.

The proposal seeks to establish a scope of work and cost estimates so the county can decide whether to widen limited segments to a 15–16-foot functional width where possible, repair failing edges and replace culverts and other drainage elements. The presenter said he had included $300,000 in a spring budget request for District 3, which would have included $40,000 for a county park parking-lot project and about $150,000 earmarked for road overlay work; the presenter asked the court to begin engineering and procurement planning rather than wait another year.

The proposal matters because Stafford Ridge includes narrow stretches, some as little as 12.5 feet, and has experienced edge cracking and increased use from recent construction traffic. Court members and staff said the county lacks standardized road-build specifications that would allow a single bid package for a road with varying widths and constraints, and that an engineering consultant or an RFP would likely be needed to produce a workable specification for contractors.

Officials and staff described several technical approaches under consideration: (1) a modest excavation and base-building technique to widen edges and then overlay with asphalt; (2) soliciting bids from contractors to prepare a design/adaptive bid package; and (3) more capital-intensive full-depth reclamation for sections that require a full rebuild. County staff noted the latter would be significantly more expensive but could deliver a longer life for the road surface.

Court staff said the county has budgeted $50,000 this fiscal year for engineering consulting to address problem slides and related road stabilization issues elsewhere; the presenter suggested that budget could be used to commission preliminary engineering, site sampling and a work package for Stafford Ridge. Members emphasized that any widening must account for utilities (water lines were specifically mentioned), mailbox locations and right-of-way limits and that culvert inventories and potential relocations would need to occur before paving.

Members raised public-safety concerns and said the project should prioritize emergency access for fire and EMS. One court member urged that the county define a minimum width (for example, 15 or 16 feet) and a maximum where geography permits, then engage 2–3 engineering firms to advise on a practical, bid-ready specification. Staff agreed to locate or draft a county road-specification document and to return with options for consultant selection or an RFP and cost estimates.

Court discussion did not adopt a final design, contractor, or construction schedule at the meeting; instead, the court directed further technical work and outreach to engineering firms to develop a formal recommendation for a later meeting. No binding appropriation or construction contract was approved during the session.

Ending: The court agreed to pursue planning steps this year so that work could proceed in spring 2026 if cost and design questions are resolved. Specific widening extents, firm cost estimates and a construction schedule will be presented to the court after consultant proposals or an RFP process deliver a bid-ready package.