Funds Pledged For Road Project
Thursday, January 26, 2006; Page SM02
State officials announced $9.5 million in funding last week to construct an extension linking Route 2/4 with the Southern Lusby Connector Road, a county project that will provide a route for traffic around Lusby Town Center.
The extension, which will span 800 feet, is funded by the state and connects the county project to state roads. The Southern Lusby Connector Road, which is being designed by county engineers, is scheduled to begin construction between Maryland Routes 760 and 765 in August.
Construction should be complete by spring or summer 2008, officials said.
Water Treatment Grant Approved
Also last week, the state Board of Public Works approved a $200,000 grant for the design, engineering and upgrade of a wastewater treatment plant that will serve community and social-service facilities in southern Charles County.
The project will upgrade the existing wastewater treatment plant at the Thunderbird Apartments so that it also can serve Jude House and the Bel Alton School.
Jude House operates a residential drug and alcohol treatment program, and the Bel Alton School is being renovated to become a multi-service center for the area. The upgraded treatment system will serve roughly 86 individuals.
"The project will improve the health and safety of the community by correcting sewerage disposal problems through construction of a pump station, force main and upgrade of the Thunderbird Apartment/Bel Alton Wastewater Treatment Plant recently acquired by the county," Charles County Commissioners President Wayne Cooper (D-At Large) said in a statement announcing the grant.
The project's cost is $358,286, and the local share is $158,286.
Construction is expected to begin in April and be complete about a year later.
Hoyer Dedicates Naval Facility
Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) spoke Monday at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station to dedicate the new $24 million complex that will become the home of nine of the 14 test aircraft in the Joint Strike Fighter program that base officials say could define jet-fighter technology for generations.
"We launched construction of one important element of the largest defense acquisition program in the history of the Department of Defense," Hoyer said in remarks released by his Washington office. "The JSF is the future of our tactical air power, and it is going to provide jobs in St. Mary's County for years to come. Today's dedication is yet another step in this important process."
The new complex, built with funds requested by Hoyer, will enable the JSF program to consolidate engineering staff into a facility that is located with the aircraft hangar. Eight older, smaller and less efficient buildings on the base were demolished and replaced with the office and work spaces for the hundreds of engineers and scientists assigned to the program.
