Howard digest
The SHA targeting invasive species
Nuisance growth along Interstate 95 is to be replaced with native plants
The State Highway Administration is beginning a $3.5 million project to kill invasive plant species along Interstate 95 in Howard County and re-establish native plants in their place.
Officials said invasive species create safety hazards including reduced sight distance for motorists and obscured road signs.
Vines such as porcelain berry also grow rapidly and can envelope a tree, blocking sunlight and potentially killing the tree. Nonnative trees also can affect stormwater management systems and can cause flooding, officials said.
“If left unattended, these vines and trees will start to impact traveler safety,” Sonal Ram, director of environmental design for the State Highway Administration, said in a news release.
Several species of invasive trees and vines have been targeted in this project. Similar projects are underway in along roadways in sections of Anne Arundel County.
Contractor A. Marquez Trucking Inc. of Silver Spring will work on roadsides, medians and interchanges. Although work will largely be out of travel lanes, the SHA will close shoulders during the project for the safety of motorists and crews.
Weather permitting, the first phase the project will be completed in the spring of 2018.
“Motorists who travel on I-95 regularly will see the vegetation begin to turn brown,” said Ram.
County to hold session on Patuxent trail extension
The Howard County Department of Public Works will hold a public information session on Thursday to discuss a trail extension project between Columbia and Savage.
The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. in Room 6 on the first floor of the Charles I. Ecker Business Training Center, 6751 Gateway Drive, Columbia.
The department's Bureau of Engineering has prepared preliminary plans for the first phase of a project to connect Patuxent Branch Trail to downtown Columbia at Lake Kittamaqundi.
When complete, the extension will create a vehicle-free connection from Columbia to Savage, including the existing portion of trail, and will connect to a new east-west multiuse pathway from the Howard County General Hospital to Blandair Park.
This phase of the project proposes a 10-foot-wide paved pathway for nonmotorized use, using some existing paved surface along the Patuxent River.
Additional construction will include two short bridges and passage under major roadways.
The work will occur between the intersection of Little Patuxent Parkway at South Entrance Road and the intersection of Stevens Forest Drive at Broken Land Parkway.
Construction and final design are dependent upon future funding.
Conceptual plans will be on display, and county staff will be on hand to explain the drawings and take comments regarding the plans.
Members of the public who are unable to attend the meeting and would like to view the proposed plans and those with questions about the project should contact Kris Singleton at 410-313-6138 or email ksingle ton@howardcountymd.gov.
Fallen firefighters to be honored at ceremony
The Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services will honor fallen fire service members Sunday during a ceremony in the Garden of Valor at Crest Lawn Memorial Gardens, 2150 Mount View Road in Marriottsville.
Following its dedication in June 2012, the Garden of Valor was set aside to honor emergency workers who have served in their communities, including firefighters, paramedics, police officers, emergency medical technicians and sheriffs, a spokeswoman said.
The ceremony will be held at 2 p.m.
County vigil to observe Domestic Violence Month
The nonprofit organization HopeWorks of Howard County will hold a candlelight vigil from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, to remember victims of domestic violence. The event is an observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
The vigil will be at the Owen Brown Interfaith Center, 7246 Cradlerock Way in Columbia; doors open at 6:45 p.m.
In addition to poetry by Laura Solomon, attendees will hear testimony from survivor and advocate LaNier Turner-Frazier as well as music from the Candlelight Concert Society.
For details, contact Vanita Leatherwood at outreach@wearehopeworks.org or 410-997-0304.
4 county groups awarded environmental grants
Four Howard County organizations have received BGE's 2016 Green Grants for their efforts to preserve, protect and enhance the environment.
Friends of Patapsco Valley & Heritage Greenway was honored for its stream watch program; Maryland Association for Environmental & Outdoor Education for its development of Maryland green schools by increasing energy efficiency; Power52 for its community solar engagement plan for low-income clients; and the Howard County Conservancy for its furniture, fixtures, equipment and supplies for the new animal care area.
In its fourth year, the program offers grants from $1,000 to $10,000 to groups that benefit the environment.
Murray Hill stormwater project to get underway
A Howard County project to replace the spillway of a detention pond on Murray Hill Road in Columbia is expected to begin on Monday. The project will involve grading to increase stormwater management capacity and replacement of the pond's principal spillway.
Weather permitting, the project is expected to be complete in January 2017.
Officials said temporary, partial westbound lane closures on Vollmerhausen Road can be expected during construction hours, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Flagging operations will be in place to direct traffic as needed.
For details, contact Lisa Brightwell at 410-313-3440 or email publicworks@how ardcountymd.gov.
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