Your Say: Spend Money on Infrastructure Where It Will Do the Most Good
In a meeting Nov. 2, we learned the Maryland Department of Transportation wants to spend $6 million on 2.24 miles of road at the bottom end of Rt. 5.
The Department seems to think this road, which ends in another mile or so in Point Lookout Park, needs wider shoulders, upgrading and improved “safety” for those few motorists who wish to visit the park and the few people living along the road before the park.
In response to mailed notifications, less than three dozen people attended, many of whom had questions about water runoff and other thoughts which were answered in what sounded to me like governmentalese, devoid of specificity.
One question about who would actually accomplish the work, whether it be the Department itself or a contractor, was not answered. I suspect it will be a sole-source and/or no-bid contract, since there are not that many competitors in this area.
I see no reason for this expenditure to widen part of a road, and, in light of the sections of good road along Rt. 4, continually dug up and repaved in Calvert County for no apparent reason, the two words which occurred to me were Pork and Barrel.
What troubles me is that I have heard nothing about any one, or any organization, addressing the problems of the Gov. Thomas Johnson Bridge connecting St Mary’s and Calvert counties.
This bridge is closed regularly for nighttime maintenance every month or so, and the pillars holding up the roadway are held together with huge clamps, preventing crumbling concrete from falling into the river.
This bridge seems to be ill-conceived since its inception and is in need of much more maintenance than Rt. 5 or Rt 4.
It has only one lane in both directions, no walkway or bicycle lane, no provision for a vehicle that may become disabled while crossing or, heaven forbid, to clear an accident blocking both lanes quickly.
If we are going to spend money on infrastructure, perhaps we should spend it where it will do the most good, rather than continuing to waste and throw it away on useless non-essentials or rewarding political favors.