Get ready to map out a new route if you're a regular on Thompson Road. Washington County officials have scheduled an open house for June 4, where residents can meet the contractor and staff behind the Thompson Road Realignment Project. The get-together is set to happen from 5-7 p.m. at the Cedar Mill Library, per an announcement on the county's website. The road overhaul will connect Thompson Road to Kenny Terrace, west of Saltzman Road, offering drivers and cyclists a smoother ride and nixing the notorious sharp curve. The new segment will boast a three-lane passage, complete with bike lanes and pedestrian-friendly paths.
Shovels are set to hit the ground in June, with the project grinding on until February. Brace yourselves for a pair of roadblocks along the way. The first closure, landing somewhere between June 15 and Sept. 1, will shut down the road west of the infamous curve for about 45 days. Another span west of Saltzman will close for about a month when fall rolls in. Washington County has detailed detour routes via Saltzman Road, Cornell Road, and Bethany Boulevard, while urging bicyclists and pedestrians to quickly navigate local byways.
With a ticket price of $7.48 million, the project's check is being signed by the MSTIP Bonding Cost-sharing Program. These upgrades are meant to buff up the infrastructure in the North Bethany/Bonny Slope West neighborhoods. And for those who can't make it to the face-to-face info session, don't sweat it. The county promises to plant all the exhibit material on the project webpage after the open house wraps up.
Those looking to sneak a peek at what this whole operation entails won't find any formal presentations at this shindig. It's a come-and-go affair, aimed at giving folks a casual chance to chat up the project crew and pore over plans at their own pace. Keeping an eye out for updates? Check the county's official project webpage, where they'll post all the displays just as sure as that notorious curve is getting straightened out.
