Published: June 01, 2009 10:55 pm      

Drainage work under way on Main Street in Frostburg

FROSTBURG — The Maryland State Highway Administration has begun a project to improve drainage along Main Street through downtown Frostburg.

The project area experiences minor flooding and ponding of water during severe storms as water flows downhill toward Water Street, SHA said.

SHA expects to complete the $325,000 project by the end of August, weather permitting. The contract was awarded to Kiddy’s Contracting of Lonaconing.

The city recently completed upgrades to separate its sewer and storm water systems to accommodate additional capacity, allowing new drainage inlets to be used. SHA will remove concrete curb in front of the inlets and complete final connections to the storm water system.

Motorists traveling through downtown Frostburg should expect single-lane closures weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. Residential access will be maintained during construction.

Motorists should also expect delays and limited street parking daily during work hours. Flagmen, barrels and temporary signs will guide motorists through the work zone.

Approximately 15,400 vehicles travel along Main Street through Frostburg each day.

As part of the Frostburg Streetscape project completed in 2001, SHA installed 18 new drainage inlets along Main Street between Lemmerts Alley and Water Street to improve storm water management. The new inlets were not made fully operational at the request of the Maryland Department of the Environment, as the additional capacity would overload the existing sewer system. New inlets were covered with concrete curb until the city could make improvements to existing storm water and sewer systems.

Questions about traffic operations can be directed to SHA’s District 6 Office at (301) 729-8400 or toll free at (800) 760-7138. Questions about the town’s storm water management project can be directed to Frostburg City Hall at (301) 689-6000, ext. 23.