November 21st, 2018 by WCBC Radio

The County Engineers Association of Maryland (CEAM) awarded Allegany County with the Small Project of the Year Award as part of its 2018 program. The Allegany County Department of Public Works was honored for capital projects in the one-million dollar or less category.  The winning project was the replacement of Mason Road Bridge, a 33-foot span over Rocky Gap Run. Allegany County’s project received the award over two other submissions from Cecil and Montgomery counties.   

Daniel S. DeWitt, PE, County Engineer, was the Project Manager and Adam Patterson, PE, Deputy Director of Public Works, assisted with design work. John J. McMillan, Bridge and Traffic Control Supervisor in the Roads Division, oversaw the construction, which was completed entirely with County staff. Paul F. Kahl, PE, Director of Public Works, stated: “Allegany County is extremely fortunate to have these talented individuals, Adam, Dan and John, managing the County’s Bridge Program.”

Allegany County is responsible for approximately 140 bridges. These bridges on County roads are subject to regular inspection per federal and state regulations. The County’s 60 bridges longer than 20 feet are inspected every two years and the others are inspected every five years. The Engineering Division’s professional engineers review all inspection reports and determine current and future bridge maintenance, rehabilitation and replacement projects.

Kahl emphasized, “The County has a talented workforce in the Roads Division. The Bridge Work Crew completes three to four projects every year. This is cost-effective and saves a significant amount of money.”  The materials for the Mason Road Bridge project cost $200,000. Bids are estimated to have been $400,000 to $500,000 for materials and labor to complete a comparable project in our area.

Kahl also recognized the contributions of M. Scott Sweitzer, Roads Division Superintendent, and stated, “Scott’s experience as the former Bridge and Traffic Control Supervisor has been invaluable. There is continuity and the County’s Bridge Program has benefitted from his knowledge and understanding.”

DeWitt and McMillan accepted the award at the recent fall conference of the County Engineers Association of Maryland.  The inscription states, “The Officers and the Board of Directors of the County Engineers Association of Maryland are pleased to present this Award to Allegany County for the Replacement of Bridge A-094: Mason Road over Rocky Gap Run. In recognition of an outstanding County Project that addresses the needs of the citizens, provides a cost-effective solution and demonstrates innovative engineering and construction. This Award presented this twentieth day of September, 2018. Erv T. Beckert, PE, President, Melvin C. (Chuck) Beall, Jr., PE, Secretary, and Matthew J. Allen, PE, PTOE, CCM, CEAM Awards Committee Chairman.”

Photograph, left to right: Glenn Detter, PE, The Wilson T. Ballard Company, Project Engineer, Erv T. Beckert, PE, CEAM President 2018-2019, Daniel S. DeWitt, PE, County Engineer/Project Manager, and John J. McMillan, Bridge and Traffic Control Supervisor.