Carroll County awards contract to replace Upper Beckleysville Road bridge; additional local and federal funds approved

Carroll County commissioners awarded a contract June 26 to replace the Upper Beckleysville Road bridge over Murphy Run and approved supplemental funding to cover the construction bid and a budget correction.

The county awarded the contract to the apparent low bidder to construct the new structure; the board also approved a resolution to add $373,500 in local funds and $879,300 in additional federal funds to the project. County engineers said the bridge was built in 1960, had received beam work in 2005, and recent inspections showed additional deterioration that led to a full closure for safety.

Why it matters: the bridge closure required a detour and affects local traffic in a rural area just west of the Baltimore County line. County public-works staff said environmental constraints and protection measures (including identified species considerations) mean the job will take approximately one year once work begins. Commissioners and staff said they will distribute an FAQ and continue communications with fire and emergency services, neighboring counties and affected residents.

Procurement and schedule: the construction contract was awarded following a competitive bid process. The project carries 120 working days in the contract; county staff noted a need to coordinate environmental permits and material availability with the contractor before setting a start date. The board approved both the funding resolution and the contract award by voice votes.

Next steps: Public Works will finalize contract paperwork, schedule a pre-construction meeting and notify neighbors and emergency-response partners of the timetable and detour plan. Staff said the temporary traffic detour currently in place was designed to be part of the overall construction approach and will remain during construction.