by Shannon Rogers and Nikola Tzenov
Construction is back underway on what residents are calling the “Westminster Boardwalk” — a multi-phase project that Carroll County has listed as a transportation priority since 2010. The priority designation acts as a funding request from the County to the State. Running alongside a stretch of Maryland Route 27 just west of the 140 bridge, construction originally began in fall of 2023, but had to pause last spring to allow for utility relocations. Those relocations, along with design and permitting, bring the total budget of the project to 4.2 million dollars.
That budget is being used to fund a broad range of infrastructure improvements critical to the final leg of the Westminster Community Trail. These enhancements include the construction of a shared-use path made of both asphalt and raised boardwalk segments. Crews will also be performing fine milling and resurfacing of the existing roadway, as well as building new curbs, gutters, sidewalks, and ADA-compliant ramps. Several driveways along the route will be resurfaced, and significant storm drainage improvements will be made, including the installation of new pipes, manholes, end sections, and end walls.
Additional features include a new pedestrian crosswalk across Hahn Road with signal upgrades, stormwater management facilities, updated signage and pavement markings, and general clearing and grubbing of the area. Maintenance of traffic during construction will be ongoing, with erosion and sediment control measures in place throughout. The project will also include landscaping to complete the corridor’s transformation. These upgrades aim to enhance pedestrian accessibility and safety, while also addressing stormwater management and traffic flow in the area.
This will be the final stretch of the Westminster Community Trail — a network of shared-use paths, two of which were completed in 2017 — that connect Westminster’s Community Pond, the adjacent Commerce Center, the Autumn Ridge Community, Bennet Cerf Park, Penguin Random House, Hahn Road, and downtown Westminster. The multi-year effort has been part of the transportation priority letter submitted annually by the Carroll County Commissioners to the Maryland Department of Transportation. These letters inform the development of the state’s six-year transportation budget. The deadline for the 2025 priority letter is May 16.
The project has quickly become the talk of the town, sparking a range of opinions among local residents. While many community members are excited to see a new development and long-awaited progress on the Westminster Community Trail, others have raised concerns about the $4.2 million price tag and whether the funds could have been better allocated. The placement of the walkway, particularly the decision to build raised boardwalks through floodplain areas along Longwell Run, has also prompted debate. Some residents question the necessity of a boardwalk in those sections, suggesting that alternative routes or construction methods could have reduced costs.
“I don’t understand the placement along Route 27, I am worried it will bring other issues to the community” says a local business employee. “This project has been a long time coming” they say. Others argue that the project is a vital investment in public infrastructure that will promote safety, connectivity, and outdoor recreation for years to come. Despite the differing views, the renewed construction has certainly captured the community’s attention as it enters its final stretch.
“This project fulfills a longtime transportation priority in Carroll County. We appreciate the County’s partnership in expanding the transportation network for our most vulnerable users – pedestrians and bicyclists. A shared-use path provides a safe and accessible route for a wide range of users while also fostering a sense of community by connecting people to neighborhoods, parks, schools and other destinations,” said Andrew Radcliffe, District Engineer for the Maryland State Highway Administration.
As per agreements, the State Highway Administration will own the path, while Carroll County will handle maintenance. With construction now resumed, officials expect the project to be completed by spring of next year.
