ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown joined Aberdeen Proving Ground leaders and local and state politicians to mark the ceremonial completion of the US Route 40 and MD 715 BRAC Intersection Improvements project -- the first BRAC Roadway Project completed in Maryland - during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at APG Sept. 9.
APG Soldiers framed the background for Brown as he thanked post and local leaders for their leadership and commitment to APG Soldiers and civilians and their families. He said that when the state realized what the 2005 BRAC would mean to Maryland, he and Governor Martin O'Malley made a commitment to work with private sectors and local governments to make the necessary investments in infrastructure," to receive, welcome and take advantage of the opportunities it presented.
"We've done a real good job with the resources while going through difficult economic times," Brown said of the $33 million investment. "These improvements will allow more residents to spend less time behind the wheel and more time with their families or on the job."
"As we look to the future," he said, "we must remain committed to building a 21st century infrastructure to support our 21st century economies."
Last week, the state took important steps toward that effort, Brown added, when it announced the beginning of weekend service on MARC trains along with $75 million in road projects, $43 million for Aberdeen alone.
"As we look to the future, we believe these investments will not only help create jobs, but support jobs and the growing economy in this expanding Maryland community," Brown said, adding that he looks forward to returning to cut the ribbon on the next $43 million infrastructure project.
APG senior leader Maj. Gen. Robert Ferrell, thanked Brown and Maryland Department of Transportation Secretary James T. Smith Jr. and the leadership of the State Highway Administration as well as Harford County Executive Roger Craig and Aberdeen Mayor Michael Brown who also were in attendance.
"We simply could not ask for a better partnership," Ferrell said of the Harford County Council, adding that the installation partnership with the Aberdeen City Council "is stronger than ever."
He additionally commended Garrison Commander Col. Gregory McClinton, Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. James Ervin, Karen Holt of the Chesapeake Science and Security Corridor and the various designers, engineers and construction workers who made the project "a reality."
Ferrell said the ceremony "represents the culmination of over five years of planning, coordination, funding, and plain old hard work," that has resulted in faster, easier and safer access to the installation for the more than 8,700 vehicles that enter the gates each morning.
"This is a significant improvement to the quality of life for everyone connected to our APG Family," he said. "We can also be very proud of the tremendous cooperation between the state, county, local communities and the Army that this project was completed on time."
He said the coming years will be marked with other major transportation upgrades to include intersection repairs along MD 22 and changes involving the way APG team members commute to work. He noted the opening of the new Transportation Center located in the APG North (Aberdeen) recreation center, which is dedicated to promoting mass transit, ride-sharing, and van pooling and was funded by a grant from the Harford County Office of Economic Development.
"Today's ceremony not only commemorates the successful completion of a major transportation project, it commemorates the transparency of the great partnership between APG, the local community and the great state of Maryland," Ferrell said. "To APG it's only a gate -- not a barrier to the continued great partnerships for all of us here today."
BRAC Intersection ImprovementsThe event marked the close of Phase I of the BRAC Intersection Improvements projects. Construction for Phase II, which involves improvements to the U.S. Route 40 at MD 7/MD 159 starts in the fall of 2015. Construction starts in early 2015 for the MD 22 at MD 462 (Paradise Road) project and in the summer of 2014 for improvements at MD 22 at Beards Hill Road. For more information, visit the Maryland Department of Transportation website at http://mdot.maryland.gov/.
Social Sharing