Hatem Bridge Gateway Project Gets Off Ground

One of the shortest highways in the state—located in Havre de Grace—is due for an upgrade, in equally short order.

The City of Havre de Grace seeks applicants to beautify what it considers the “gateway to the city": MD Route 763.

A .28-mile stretch of road, the State Highway Administration says Route 763 is that portion of Superior Street linked to Juniata and Ohio streets, traveling underneath the Hatem Bridge overpass.

The City of Havre de Grace is holding a meeting for contractors interested in the Superior Street improvements on Friday, Aug. 16, at City Hall. The work is slated for completion by the end of October.

The city is calling the aesthetic undertaking the "Hatem Bridge Gateway Project."

Much of the project centers around the overpass, which officials hope will soon offer a "welcoming entrance into the historic downtown," according to the request for proposals.

Contractors will not be revamping the bridge in its entirety, one city official said. “You don’t have to paint the whole bridge; you just have to paint the top and a couple of the pillars,” Havre de Grace Grants and Economic Development Coordinator Carolyn Sweet said.

The Maryland Transportation Authority has agreed to scrape the rest of the bridge and paint it a neutral color that goes with the chosen design, she explained.

Applicants for the project will be required to submit an artistic rendering, then perform surface preparation and surface treatments. A creative treatment is desired for part of the bridge. Murals or lettering are options, according to the guidelines, which included this example: “Welcome to Havre de Grace.”

Said Sweet: “The whole bridge will have a new look."

Funded by a grant from Maryland Department of Housing and Development, the Hatem Bridge Gateway Project is made possible through the department's Community Legacy Program, Sweet said. The grant is for up to $45,000.

Work is expected to be complete by mid October.

A pre-bid meeting will take place at 2 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 16, in City Hall (711 Pennington Ave.) in Havre de Grace. Applications are due by Sept. 6. View the request for proposals.