5/24/2005

Ferguson presents plan to straighten Cathell Road
By Bob Lassahn

Ocean Pines Association (OPA) General Manager Dave Ferguson was literally sent back to the drawing board at the OPA Board’s April meeting when he presented a suggested road repaving and a minor widening for the section of Cathell Road between Route 589 and Ocean Parkway. According to Ferguson’s suggestion, as part of the OPA’s ongoing road resurfacing program Cathell Road would have been widened only slightly and resurfaced. The board requested cost estimates for a more ambitious project complete with a bike lane.

According to Ferguson’s comments a committee did the original design for the roadway. The intent was to minimize traffic along the stretch by making it narrow and winding so the South Gate entrance was the more desirable alternative. The tactic obviously failed and in the ensuing years the roadway suffered from too much traffic, moving at too great a speed for the design.

At the May 18 board meeting Ferguson presented a design that would straighten out the curves by reworking and relocating the roadway. The design will not only widen the road substantially, but also accommodate a bike lane. The cost is estimated at about $230,000. Since some wetlands are involved and there are storm water management issues the project will require not only additional funds, but also additional time to complete.

The funds remaining in this year’s road resurfacing project will be insufficient to cover all costs associated so the project will be forward funded, with the additional amount coming from next year’s allocation. Ferguson projects the project could be completed by next spring.

With the Sports Core area as the potential home for a new community center the board quickly approved moving forward with the project.

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