CUMBERLAND — A limited makeover of Baltimore Avenue will be expanded to a more extensive project thanks to the infusion of additional funding, said John DiFonzo, Cumberland’s director of engineering.
DiFonzo delivered an update to the project at the regular meeting of the Cumberland Mayor and City Council on Tuesday.
The Baltimore Avenue improvements project has gained additional funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission and a Community Development Block Grant.
Although the city had bond money available, the failure of an Allegany College entrance project freed up $937,000 in ARC funds.
“After the new entrance to Allegany College was not able to move forward,” said DiFonzo, “Baltimore Avenue has become a much better project.”
The added funding will allow for updates that include the intersection of Front Street and Baltimore Avenue, Henderson Avenue all the way to Glenn St. and the widening of the “narrow section” of Baltimore Avenue, DiFonzo said.
Initial bond money was only going to allow for the milling off of the road, adding waterlines, then patching and paving, DiFonzo said.
“We would not have been able to do this with just the bond money,” said DiFonzo.
The project was upgraded after property was obtained along the steep side of Baltimore Avenue, which will receive a new retaining wall and a widening of 5 to 6 feet.
The project will also include funding for handicapped accessible sidewalks through money from the community development grant.
“A fair amount of money was needed to improve the handicapped access,” said DiFonzo.
Traffic will be forced to become one-way during the work.
“Traffic will be temporarily one-way from Baltimore Avenue at Henderson all the way out to Marion,” DiFonzo said.
DiFonzo said that making Baltimore Avenue one-way during construction, with Interstate 68 being used as the detour, is the best way to handle traffic during construction.
“We did this on Virginia Avenue with wonderful success,” said DiFonzo.
Council member Nick Scarpelli echoed the sentiment.
“We had no disruption during that,” Scarpelli said.
“If it were two-way it would be a mess,” said DiFonzo. “We will have flagmen and signs to help direct people around the equipment.”
“I wanted to do this in the 80’s,” said DiFonzo. “We just didn’t have the funding. I think it’s going to be a noticeable improvement that I think we are going to be proud to have done” he said.
“The design work by EADS of Somerset is complete and the State Highway Administration is reviewing the plans now,” DiFonzo said.
“We will bid it in February or March and hope to award it and begin the work in the summer.
The project is not expected to be finished until 2014.
Greg Larry can be contacted at glarry@times-news.com.
Latest news
Baltimore Avenue to undergo extensive renovation
Paving, widening of road expected to begin in summer
- Latest news
-
-
‘Time just kind of stood still’
Helmeted rescue workers raced Tuesday to complete the search for survivors and the dead in the Oklahoma City suburb where a mammoth tornado destroyed countless homes, cleared lots down to bare red earth and claimed 24 lives, including those of nine children.
-
City hopes economic strategies clear way for job creation, growth
Shawn Hershberger, economic development coordinator for the city, gave an update of the strategies being pursued for economic growth, including developing an educational center at the former Human Resources Development Commission location.
-
Protesters rally at FirstEnergy meeting
At least 200 union workers picketed FirstEnergy’s annual shareholder meeting in West Virginia on Tuesday, demanding the Ohio-based utility hire enough people to keep the power on without forcing an ever-shrinking labor force to work as many as 1,800 hours of overtime a year.
-
DelFest activities kick off with annual teaching academy
As temperatures in the Cumberland area soared into the upper 80’s Monday and hit 90 on Tuesday, the DelFest folks were going full tilt at the Allegany County Fairgrounds, getting ready for their upcoming Memorial Day weekend music festival.
-
2 adults, 3 teens charged in former Sacred Heart Hospital breaking and entering
Two adults and three juveniles have been charged in connection with a recent breaking and entering of the former Sacred Heart Hospital complex on Seton Drive, according to the C3I Unit.
-
Final testing for Rocky Gap Casino
As required by the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency, the Rocky Gap Casino went through final live testing of its operations Monday, with officials hoping to open casino doors for business on Wednesday.
-
Piedmont town foreman enters guilty plea
Piedmont Town Foreman John Shingler is facing a prison term of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000 after pleading guilty to a charge of conversion of government property Thursday in U.S. District Court, Northern District of West Virginia, Martinsburg, according to court documents.
-
New septic system rules will tax county health department
New state laws on septic systems will require increased on-site work for Allegany County Health Department staff and could lead to an eventual increase in septic system inspection fees, department officials said last week.
-
Mineral County commissioners keep ambulance authority bylaws
The Mineral County Commission voted down a proposed change to the county ambulance authority bylaws that would have allowed the ambulances to expand nonemergency transports.
-
Family has long connection to local YMCA Matriarch hopes to keep tradition in family
Vickie Murray Aman has been working at the Riverside YMCA for the past 44 years. She is the matriarch of a family who has had a longstanding relationship with the local Y.
- More Latest news Headlines
-
