Rural roads are defined as a County-maintained road within Baltimore County’s rural conservation zones located outside of the Urban Rural Demarcation Line (URDL).
Design Standards for rural roads and for bridges and culverts along rural roads are included in Chapter Eight–Roads and Streets and Chapter 10–Structures in the Baltimore County Design Manual, adopted on August 2, 2010.
Capital Bridge Projects
Baltimore County is planning to begin work within the next two years on several bridges. Funding for the repairs or replacement may be covered by either Federal or County funds. Bridge measurements are the clear width between parapets.
| Bridge Number | Road Crossing | Bridge Width | Funding | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0018 | Sparks Road over Gunpowder Falls | Existing: 19 feet, 8 inches, plus or minus Proposed: 19 feet 8 inches* | Federal | Historic truss bridge in need of cleaning and painting. Design programmed for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021; construction programmed for FY 2022. |
| 0072 | Dogwood Road over Dogwood Run | Existing: 21 feet, 2 inches, plus or minus Proposed: 31 feet* | Federal | The project has been delayed due to right of way acquisition of Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Coordination with environmental permitting agencies to begin once right-of-way schedule is known. Design has been completed and construction is anticipated in 2021. |
| 0184 | River Road over Tributary to the Pataspco River | Existing: 20 feet, plus or minus Proposed: 23 feet, 4 inches | County and Federal Emergency Management Agency* | The bridge was destroyed during the May 2018 Ellicott City and Oella Flood event. Construction to start in June 2019. Road is currently closed to traffic. |
| 0457 | Patterson Road over Tributary to Long Green Pike | Existing: 19 feet, 9 inches plus or minus Proposed: 26 feet | County | Structurally deficient bridge in need of total replacement. Engineering for the project began in summer 2014. Public input meeting anticipated in late 2019. Construction is programmed for FY 2021. |
| 0594 | Wesley Chapel Road over Tributary to Charles Run | Existing: 19 feet, plus or minus Proposed: 26 feet | County | Structurally deficient bridge in need of either total replacement or major rehabilitation. Design to begin in FY 2020. Public input meeting anticipated in early 2021 if total replacement is necessary. Right-of-way impacts to be determined once project scope is determined. Construction is scheduled for FY 2023. |
| 0642 | Cuba Road over Tributary to Western Run | Existing: 19 feet, 3 inches, plus or minus Proposed: 22 feet | County | Structurally deficient bridge in need of deck and portions of the abutments replaced. Construction programmed for summer of FY 2020. |
| 0643 | South Ruhl Road over Little Falls | Existing: 20 feet, plus or minus Proposed: 22 feet | County | Structurally deficient bridge in need of total replacement. Steel roadway plates on bridge installed in fall 2011. In-kind replacement anticipated. Design underway. A public meeting may be held in late 2019. Construction programmed for FY 2020. |
| 0757 | Stablersville Road over Tributary to Councilman's Run | Existing: 20 feet, plus or minus Proposed: 26 feet | County | Roadway reduced to one lane over bridge. Engineering studies currently underway to determine whether to replace or rehabilitate. If total replacement, public meeting anticipated for early 2020. Construction anticipated for FY 2022. |
Notes: *Anticipated proposed bridge clear width to be reviewed and modified if necessary during preliminary design. Federal aid projects involve 80 percent Federal funds and 20 percent County funds for both design and construction. Construction completion dates are contingent on weather and other unanticipated delays.
Bridge Repairs
The list below shows Baltimore County scheduled bridge repairs for 2019. Road closings and detours are noted. Only significant repairs currently scheduled are listed. Other bridge repairs to be undertaken as needed.
| Bridge Number | Road Crossing | Proposed Repair | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0007 | Pleasantville Road over Little Gunpowder Falls | Replace deck panels, install traffic barrier across bridge and paint bridge. | Road to be closed during construction. Signed detour anticipated. |
| 0043 | Mantua Mill Road over Deadman Run | Traffic barrier safety upgrades, deck rehabilitation, and painting. | Road to be closed during construction. Unsigned detour anticipated. |
| 0093 | Hydes Road over Long Green Creek | Scour repairs. | Single lane flagging maintenance of traffic. |
| 0401 | Sparks Road over tributary to Carroll Run | Abutment repairs. | Road to be closed during construction. Unsigned detour anticipated. |
| 0769 | Beetree Road over tributary to Beetree Run | Replaced failed wing wall and undermining. | Single lane flagging maintenance of traffic. |