The State Highway Administration will temporarily close the Cranberry Road Bridge (Route 852H) over the West Branch of the Patapsco River near Westminster TownMall in Westminster.
Weather permitting, the closure will begin tomorrow for approximately one month while the bridge is repaired. The $89,000 project should be completed by Aug. 24. The project includes reconstruction of the roadway at the bridge approaches.
Motorists will be detoured approximately three miles in each direction along Cranberry Road as follows: Route 140 to Route 27 to Route 852 (Old Manchester Road) to Cranberry Road.
Residents will have access to their homes and to Westminster TownMall.
SHA will use concrete barriers, detours signs and advanced warning signs to guide traffic safely through the work zone.
Information: 301-624-8201 or 800-635-5119.
Finksburg picnic is Thursday
Finksburg Planning and Citizens Council will hold its annual community picnic at 6 p.m. Thursday at Sandymount Park on Old Westminster Pike.
A celebration for the group's 10th anniversary and the Aug. 2 groundbreaking of the Finksburg library branch will be held.
Hamburgers, hot dogs and beverages will be provided. Please take a salad, side dish or dessert to share.
Books also will be collected to donate to the new library.
Information: 410-840-0133.
Public meeting set on Westminster plan
The Carroll County Bureau of Comprehensive Planning will hold a public meeting on the Westminster Environs Community Comprehensive Plan at 6 p.m. July 30 in Room 003 of the County Office Building, 225 N. Center St., Westminster.
The plan will serve as the guide for public and private decision-making for Westminster and the surrounding area, if approved by the county Planning and Zoning Commission and adopted by the county commissioners.
The draft plan includes an amendment to the Westminster Community Planning Area/Growth Area Boundary.
The plan is available athttp:--ccgovernment.carr.org/ccg/compp lan/westmin/default.asp, or at the bureau, Room 204, 225 N. Center St., Westminster.
Information: 410-386-2145.
Hearing set on billboard rules
County staff recently presented the commissioners with proposed amendments to Chapter 223, Zoning, to consider the prohibition of any new billboards from being located within 1,000 feet of the public road right-of-way along either side of the new Hampstead (Route 30) Bypass.
The amendments include certain clarifications regarding setbacks, variances, and proximity to other use-off-the-premises signs.
A public hearing will be held on the proposed amendments at 10 a.m. Aug. 9 in Room 311 of the County Office Building.
A pre-hearing workshop on the proposed amendments is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. July 30.
Copies of the proposed draft amendments are available at ccgovernment.carr.org and through the Department of the County Attorney at 410-386-2030.
Board to discuss transportation plan
The Baltimore Regional Transportation Board will hold a public meeting on the draft plan for Transportation Outlook 2035, a long-range transportation plan for the Baltimore region.
The meeting will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 1, with presentations at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., in Room 003 of the County Office Building, 225 N. Center St., Westminster.
The board is taking comments on the plan through Aug. 29. The plan is available at www.baltometro.org, and at libraries and planning offices.
Information: mhaines@baltometro.org.
Frederick Road project has begun
The State Highway Administration has begun to resurface approximately one mile along Route 144A (Frederick Road) between Route 94 (Woodbine Road) and Daisy Road in Howard County.
Weather permitting, the project will be complete by the end of September.
During resurfacing, single lane closures along Frederick Road will occur between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Flag persons, arrow panels, signs, cones and barrels will guide motorists through the work zone.
Information: 301-624-8100 or 800-635-5119.