(July 6, 2009) – This week, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) will begin a $100,000 environmental preservation project along nearly 40 miles of US 301 (Blue Star Memorial Highway) between the US 50 split in Queen Anne’s County and the Delaware State Line in Cecil County.  The goal of the project is to eradicate invasive plant species to allow native vegetation to thrive along US 301 in Queen Anne’s, Kent and Cecil counties.  This project supports Governor O’Malley’s Smart, Green and Growing initiative. 

Recent steady, soaking rains have accelerated the growth of invasive vegetation, which is crowding out native trees, shrubs and wildflowers important to the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.  The environmental preservation project covers approximately 670 acres of highway roadsides and medians along US 301 on the Eastern Shore. During the next two years, SHA will remove invasive species such as Poison Ivy, Oriental Bittersweet and other vines which can be seen climbing and engulfing trees along the roadsides.  Exotic invasive trees and shrubs such as Tree of Heaven, Multiflora Rose, Bush Honeysuckle, Russian and Autumn Olive as well as noxious weeds such as Canadian Thistle and Johnsongrass will also be removed.  The project will ultimately establish 123 acres of beneficial meadows along the US 301 medians and roadsides.

SHA will seed the roadside areas to restore the meadows with native, non-invasive species.  This project is made possible thanks to President Barack Obama’s landmark American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  Projects such as this are stimulating Maryland’s economy by creating or saving thousands of regional jobs.

SHA’s contractor for the project is Carl W. Neutzel Landscape Services, Inc.  During the next two years, crews will be doing the majority of the work in the median and roadsides along US 301. When workers are on the road, THINK ORANGE, which is the color of construction signs, barrels and warning devices.  Please slow down, stay alert and expect the unexpected.  Choose to make work zone safety your business at www.choosesafetyforlife.com

If the traveling public has any questions or needs additional information about the project, they may contact SHA’s Office of Environmental Design at 410-545-8590 or toll free at 800-446-5962.

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