The Town of Bel Air continues to make improvements to its crosswalks and last week approved a contract to install new ramps at two intersections.
The town commissioners voted unanimously at their meeting May 2 to award a contract for $79,000 to Santos Construction Co., of Bowie, to complete eight ramps at one intersection and two ramps at another.
As roads throughout the town are repaved, the crosswalks have to be made Americans with Disabilities Act compliant, Town Public Works Director Steve Kline said after the meeting.
Two crosswalks are being installed at each corner of Hickory Avenue and Courtland Street, near the Harford County Board of Education headquarters, for a total of eight. Two others will be installed at the intersection of Winding Alley and Atwood Road.
Also as part of the contract, sidewalks will be installed from Hickory Avenue along Crocker Street to Francis Avenue and along Francis Avenue until it connects with the existing sidewalk.
The commissioners also voted unanimously to award a contract for $45,437.90 to KCI Technologies for engineering around Plumtree Park and the Howard Park area, part of an ongoing effort to improve the area.
The project includes engineering for streetscape improvements along Thomas Street between Bond Street and Kelly Avenue and along George Street from the entrance to the Plumtree Park parking lot to Kelly Avenue, according to Kevin Small, director of planning for the town, in an effort "to connect the neighborhood and community areas."
Already the stream through the park has been daylighted and new playground equipment has been installed.
Ultimately, Small said, the town would like to connect to the Ma & Pa Trail from the end of Thomas Street and through Kelly Field.
KCI was not the lowest bidder on the project, but had the highest rating, Small said. The surveying portion was removed to bring the contract within the $50,000 budget. About 25 percent of the surveying for the streetscape improvements still needs to be done. That contract will be awarded separately to another company that should keep the project within budget, he said.
The town also voted unanimously to renew a lease with the Tower Restaurant for a small parcel next to the restaurant owned by the town.
The lease of the 1,324-square-foot parcel, which Director of Administration Michael Krantz said is essentially the restaurant's patio, is for $3,120 annually, from March 12, 2016 to Feb. 28, 2019.
The town commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding giving Maryland Transportation Authority Police the authority to make arrests within the Town of Bel Air municipal limits. The City of Aberdeen approved a similar MOU.
Lunchtime concerts resume Fridays in Bel Air, from noon to 1 p.m., on Office Street near the Courthouse.