Why is Kinder Road Being Widened?

A reader asks: what's up with the widening of a 600-foot portion of Kinder Road by Jumpers Hole Road? " No one in the neighborhood was notified of this work. I find this to be a colossal waste of money." 

Matt Diehl, with the Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works, always helpful when Patch has a question pertaining to our roads, provides the answers here.

I want to know why the county is widening a 600-foot portion of Kinder Road by Jumpers Hole Road?
The developer defaulted on this subdivision project after a majority
build out but before the requirements within the Public Works Agreement
were complete. This is a traffic safety requirement of the developer for
homes built facing the existing roadway.

No one in the neighborhood was notified of this work.
This information was also provided to Diane Jennings of the county executive's office from Deputy Director of the Bureau of Highways Greg Africa:

"As with our road maintenance and repair projects, we inform, leave
door hangers, and post the road with announcements regarding the
impending work so there is minimal interference with access to their
homes.  

However, this section of Kinder Road has the park on the north
side and the backyard fences of residences on the south sides.  There
was no interference with access to any homes. Thus, no notification was
provided. In addition, Kinder Road is not and will not be closed to
traffic. The road work is performed in a manner that allows for traffic
to flow with the use of flag persons."

Diehl: I will add that every subdivision has a public meeting prior to
approval. This allows the community to review proposed plans for all
work and register concerns. Plans presented include the above-mentioned
PWA requirements.

I have not known of any storm water problems in this area, nor has our  community association.
Stormwater is a tremendous problem in this county and in the state.
Local, state and federal governments are actively working to address the
problem in efforts to improve the Chesapeake Bay and local waterways.
It will get worse if required improvements like this are incomplete due
to developer default.

Why is this being done without the neighborhood's permission or
notification?
Again, every proposed subdivision development is required to have a
public meeting prior to approval. This allows the community to review
proposed plans for all work and register concerns. Plans presented
include the above-mentioned PWA requirements

Chartwell's Community Association Roads and Safety liasion, Orhan Omer, was told that this work was being done by a builder, not with county funds. This is not the case, according to the County Executive's  Office.
 Bureau of Highways is using the developer's forfeited $150,000 bond
and $40,000 to complete the necessary work and ensure that development does not outpace supporting infrastructure.

The breakdown of the work is:
$40K-Utillity Pole Relcoation
$80K-Stormwater Basin
$70K-Road Widening/Resurface
($40K of the roadwork is county funds to complete 600 feet of resurfacing
from Wembly to the speed bump)

About this column: Patch answers, or finds someone to answer, a question submitted by a reader on any topic relating to the community. Email leslie.hunt@patch.com if you have a community concern.

Editor's Note: This Q&A was updated to reflect that Diane Jennings of the county executive's office was the person to receive the response from Deputy Director of the Bureau of Highways Greg Africa.