By Dolores E. Pike

As chairman of County Residents Action for Safer Highways (CRASH ) Bob Hulburd attempted to rally the troops with a meeting at the Snow Hill library on October 3. About 25 people showed up, most of whom were commissioners, candidates for commissioner, members of the press and early CRASH supporters. The purpose of the meeting was to plan a strategy for the October 10 Worcester County Commissioners meeting at which time the Comprehensive Transportation Plan (CTP) of the Maryland Department of Transportation is being presented.

Mr. Hulburd reiterated the basic scenario wherein $26 million was initially received for the dualization of Route 113; the section from Berlin north is completed; and four phases remain (five if you include the Route 12 interchange) to be completed.

Phase one has been completely funded and, according to Bobby Bramble of Bramble Construction, it could be finished, weather permitting, as early as the end of this year. This is especially notable in view of a three month delay in the start of phase one which must be contractually completed by May 25, 2007.

According to Mr. Hulburd the final three phases, each one consisting of a four mile stretch, have not received construction funding. And this is to be the focus of his presentation before the county commissioners and the CTP. He believes his message will carry more force if a large contingency of supporters are present to stand behind him.

Commissioner John E. "Sonny" Bloxom voiced the commissioners' priority position which is that the dualization of Route 113 be completed and this takes precedence over construction funding for Safe Travel Along Route 589 (STAR589).

Mr. Hulburd went on to remind attendees that the Route 113 project is a true non-partisan issue since the dualization started with a Democratic governor and has continued during the administration of a Republican governor.

With reference to STAR589, which is under the leadership of Joe Green, Mr. Hulburd stated that it is not too soon for STAR589 to begin pushing for the funding to put Route 589 into the planning stage. "If the state can do a planning study for the Route 50 bridge, then they can do a planning study for Rte. 589," he said.

Also on hand at the October 3 meeting to present the progress on phase one construction was State Highway Administration (SHA) district engineer Donnie Drewer. Among other issues he explained and fielded questions at length about the Route 12 crossover of Route 113. Several people, including Commissioner Virgil Shockley, voiced their concerns about the danger and inadequacy of the plan as currently proposed. Commissioner Shockley was most emphatic in his belief that the median is not long enough to accommodate school buses and trucks that will be using it. One alternative discussed was to eliminate the crossover, allowing only a right turn followed shortly thereafter by a U turn, thus allowing for further travel on Route 12 or traveling south on Route 113.

"One of the most dangerous parts of the road (Rte. 113) is unfinished," was a closing comment made by Marty Pusey of Snow Hill. She was referring to that section in Newark near Basket Switch Road. Ms. Pusey's co-worker, Lynn Boyd, was killed this summer on that highway.

A transportation forum will be held by CRASH and STAR589 at the Ocean Pines library on October 18 at 6:30 p.m. For further information on becoming a part of CRASH please call Bob Hulburd 410-641-7893 or STAR589 call Joe Green 410-641-7944.