The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) will receive more than $6.8 million from the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Emergency Relief Program to help cover the costs to repair roads and bridges damaged during Tropical Storm Lee in late-summer 2011.
Last September Tropical Storm Lee inundated creeks and rivers and washed away sections of road as several inches of rain fell across Maryland. Significant damage followed in its wake as roads were washed out, debris damaged bridge structures, ramps eroded away, drawbridge motors were flooded and pavement was compromised.
Forty-four Maryland State roads and 20 county-owned roads were damaged. The majority of Maryland’s federal reimbursement funding is for three major repairs:
1) $3.1 million to replace the MD 234 Bridge over Allens Fresh Run in Charles County. This bridge was completely washed out and a new temporary structure was constructed in less than three months. Design on a new permanent structure is underway.
2) $1.1 million for pavement and drainage repairs along US 301 near MD 6 in La Plata, Charles County. Two sections along southbound US 301 washed out following more than six inches of rain. Crews worked around the clock to repair both sections of southbound US 301. More than 38,000 vehicles use this section of US 301 every day.
3) $1 million to repair the southbound MD 2 ramp to westbound MD 100 in Anne Arundel County. A massive pipe collapse caused a 70-foot long by 16 foot-wide by 30-foot deep hole to form on the ramp. Crews worked daily to repair the pipe and construct a huge concrete structure under the ramp.