Published: February 17, 2009 10:13 pm      

District 6 engineer brings wealth of experience to SHA post

Tony Crawford oversees Maryland’s four westernmost counties

LAVALE — As the newly appointed District 6 engineer at the State Highway Administration, Tony Crawford is quite up to the task.

With 12 years experience with the agency since he received his civil engineering degree at the University of Maryland, the Morgantown, W.Va., resident has held a variety of SHA jobs — all of which have helped prepare him for his present assignment at the head of District 6, which includes Allegany, Garrett, Washington and Frederick counties.

“I like my job because I get to utilize all my experience. It’s challenging and time-consuming and it’s rewarding,” said Crawford, a veteran of the U.S. Navy who worked two years at the SHA headquarters and three years in winter maintenance in Garrett County, among various other jobs with the agency.

With up to 50 full-time SHA employees working in each of the four counties in District 6 and 40 employees at the District 6 headquarters in LaVale, Crawford oversees a large team and voiced appreciation for each individual.

“I couldn’t do it without them,” said Crawford, who said like most agencies and companies, he could always use more people. “But we’ve held steady at this level for the last several years.”

The transfer of 17 employees in the SHA Construction Inspection Division to the District 6 office last year added to the staff at the LaVale office. They were previously stationed at the Baltimore office for their statewide work.

Crawford said replacement of guardrails throughout the District 6 region is planned along with continuing maintenance of roadways, resurfacing and bridge projects at various locations. Guardrail projects could possibly be an economic stimulus project with some funding from the federal government.

Budgetary constraints have put some projects on hold, including the U.S. Route 219 Oakland bypass project and planning studies for U.S. 219 North at Grantsville to the Pennsylvania line and U.S. Route 220 South from Cumberland to Keyser, W.Va.

Crawford said he would like to “regrade a lot of the medians” in western Allegany County and Garrett County where erosion has altered the median landscape.

The state official also said he is happy about improvements on state Route 135 at Backbone Mountain, including new fluorescent lighting and additional lighting at the runaway ramp.

Crawford said the SHA continues to monitor the ground at Route 135 near Luke where numerous rock slides and subsequent land improvements have been made in past years. Geotechnical inspectors also regularly monitor the terrain near state Route 36 at Westernport.

“I’m here to work with people and I like to work with people. I’m here to do everything possible to meet the needs of the community.

“I work with staff to make sure we are doing what we are supposed to do,” said Crawford, who oversees traffic and safety operations in addition to emergency responses.

Crawford said he has met with officials, including Maryland State Police barrack commanders, and looks forward to meeting local legislators in the General Assembly. He also meets with first-responders.

“I’m here to work with everybody. We’re going to continue to move forward. We want to be more efficient.

“We’re always looking to improve,” he said, “and be efficient at what we do.”

Crawford and his wife, Celinda, and their sons, Connor, 14, and Preston, 11, reside in Morgantown, W.Va.

Contact Jeffrey Alderton at jlalderton@times-news.com.