Gov. Wes Moore and the Board of Public Works approved $18.2 million in funding for the Extended North Tunnel in Ellicott City, Howard County’s largest public works project.
The funding consists of a $17.2 million loan and $1 million grant. It comes in addition to about $5 million approved for water infrastructure projects in Calvert, Cecil, Talbot and Kent counties.
The low-interest loan is provided through the Maryland Department of Environment’s Water Quality Revolving Loan Fund. The precise interest rate will not be known until closing, but the county expects it will be close to 2% on a 30-year repayment term.
“While Washington cancels grants that make communities safer and more resilient, Maryland is stepping up,” Moore said in a news release. “This funding is about fortifying our state’s water infrastructure by delivering strategic investments. And through this work, we will protect our communities and save lives.”
The latest state funding comes on the heels of $10 million Moore dedicated to flood mitigation in Ellicott City from the Resilient Maryland Loan Fund in June.
The Extended North Tunnel is the key project of seven included in the Ellicott City Safe and Sound flood mitigation plan, which was passed after catastrophic flooding in 2011, 2016 and 2018. It was estimated to cost $141.5 million, and upon its completion, the tunnel will transport up to 26,000 gallons of water per second. The 18-foot-diameter underground tunnel is designed to intercept floodwaters from the western areas and divert them away from Main Street to reduce the risk of flash flooding.
“This critical infrastructure is the keystone of our comprehensive EC Safe and Sound plan,” Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said in the release. “With pivotal support from our partners in Annapolis, including Governor Moore, Senator [Katie Fry] Hester, and Delegate [Courtney] Watson, we have moved this project from vision to reality. Together, we will ensure Ellicott City is a model of climate resilience for our entire nation.”
Blasting for the tunnel began last December. Earlier this month, the county announced that the mining shaft had reached substantial completion and horizontal blasting and excavation began on two chambers to make way for the tunnel boring machine, which is set to begin arriving in shipments from Ohio.
While the tunnel is expected to be substantially completed by fall 2027, funding remains uncertain to complete the remaining three projects in EC Safe and Sound that haven’t broken ground yet.
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