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County advances planning for pedestrian bridge, road overlays and Nichols Manor bridge; several projects hinge on grants or assessments
Summary
Budget staff reviewed multiple transportation capital projects including a $3 million pedestrian crossing over US 50/301 (grant dependent), Nichols Manor bridge design nearing permit completion, parking lot overlays and road special‑benefit assessments; commissioners discussed public hearings and grant pursuits.
Queen Anne's County staff summarized a suite of transportation capital projects at the April 1 work session, noting grant dependency for some items and local special‑benefit assessment processes for others.
Staff said a pedestrian bridge crossing US 50/301 is programmed at $3 million in the plan, with funding currently identified as grants. "We're still pursuing grants vigorously," a staff member said, adding the county has applied repeatedly for federal and state funding but has not secured construction dollars yet. Preliminary engineering cost estimates cited in the capital book were described as earlier estimates from consulting work and staff said those numbers may change as design is refined.
Nichols Manor Bridge is in design; staff said state hydraulic and hydrology approvals are in process and the design will replace multiple culverts with a larger concrete opening to reduce overtopping. "The road will be a little higher and the openings will be a little bigger to allow the extra," staff said, adding the project will move forward once final permits are obtained.
Road and overlay funding includes a $2.5 million asphalt overlay program next year; some road projects are funded via special‑benefit assessments where property owners petition to participate. Staff said several local roadway associations are organizing petitions and that information meetings and hearings are planned this summer.
On shoreline and coastal roads, staff said Beach Road remains complex and expensive; a public hearing will be planned to present costs and revetment options to residents. For Cloverfields flood mitigation, staff said the most cost‑effective measures are retention or detention ponds that may require property acquisition; the project will continue to pursue grant funding but may not rank high enough in some grant cost‑benefit analyses.
Why it matters: several transportation projects are dependent on external grants or on property owner support for special assessments. Timely permitting and public outreach will shape whether projects proceed on the current schedule.
Next steps: staff will continue grant applications, schedule hearings for special‑benefit assessments and advance Nichols Manor design as permits are finalized.
