In response to the demands of residents along Cedarday Drive, Harford County Executive David Craig is issuing a statement on the controversial plan to extend the road, but residents should not expect much flexibility or any possibility that the plan won't move forward.
County spokesman Bob Thomas said Thursday that Craig will simply explain to residents why extending the road is necessary.
The letter, which "outlines and responds to a number of concerns and questions that the residents have raised," was expected to be sent to residents of Cedarday Drive and Cedarday Estates either Thursday or today (Friday).
"The county executive has attempted to explain in this correspondence our needs for the project, the issues pertaining to traffic controls, traffic volume, efforts to minimize the traffic in the area of the sports complex and why this project is being done," Thomas said.
Many residents who bought into the Cedarday community were adamant that the road be kept a dead end, and launched a petition campaign to stop a project they said would make Cedarday Drive a bypass for Cedar Drive.
During a June community meeting that drew about 100 residents, Jeff Stratmeyer, the county's chief highways engineer, organized a resident-run traffic committee to look at ways of mitigating traffic in the area.
Many residents seemed resigned to the project moving forward, but others demanded to see their elected representatives, including Craig and County Councilwoman Mary Ann Lisanti.
Thomas said Thursday that Craig has been taking residents' concerns seriously the whole time.
"The county executive has followed this issue closely. He has read every letter that's been received by the staff, as well as e-mails, and has been updated on a regular basis by the department of public works in regard to this project," he said.
The contract for the extension project was expected to be put out to bid this month.