Department of Public Works

CountyProjects
How can I learn of Department of Public Works contracts that are out for bid? DPW does not have a bid list. However, you may place your information on the County's vendor list. Contact the Office of Purchasing at 410-535-1600, Ext. 2522. Contracts out for bid are advertised in the three local papers, Contract Weekly, plan rooms and Emaryland Market Place. In addition, reporting companies track the status through the bid process.

Roads
Who do I call about a utility company working on or around my property?  Project Management Division (Roy Milstead) at 410-535-1600, Ext. 2245

How can I get a street sign for my road?
For a new street sign on a private road, call Planning & Zoning (P&Z) at 410-535-2348) to verify the road name. P&Z must approve all road names. If it is not in the system you must fill out a form with the P&Z office. If it is an old shared drive/private road, P&Z must still verify.
When verified, contact Highway Maintenance (Joan Jaquette) at 410-535-2204 or the Engineering Bureau (Melissa Miller) at 410-535-2204 for a sign estimate.
The cost must be paid to the Engineering Bureau. Engineering will then contact Highway Maintenance to order and install.
If your road is newly constructed, the Highway Maintenance Division will install the signs after final inspection of the roadway by the County.

Who do I call if our street sign has been stolen/knocked down, etc.? The Highway Maintenance office at 410-535-0905.

Who do I call to report trees down, icy or flooded roads or snow hazards? For County roads during normal working hours (M-F 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) call the Calvert County Highway Maintenance office at 410-535-0905; after hours please call (410) 535-3491. For state roads call the State Highway Maintenance office at 410-535-1748.

Can I plant flowers/put up a basketball hoop/install a brick mailbox in the right of way? Plants may be added provided sight distance is not impaired. Basketball hoops, brick mailboxes and other such fixed objects are not allowed in County rights-of-way. They pose a safety hazard.

Will the County transfer the right of way of an unimproved roadway (paper road) to a citizen? Requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis; however, the County would have to officially "abandon" the road as a County right-of-way; which involves a legal process. Contact the Department of Public Works at 410-535-2204.

What is the County's policy for speed bumps? Speed bumps are not allowed on County roads.

Can I get the speed limit reduced in my neighborhood? The lowest legal speed limit is 25 mph and is only posted in residential areas meeting roadway design qualifications. Nearly all County subdivisions are currently posted at 25 mph and cannot be lowered any further. However, speed limits less than 25 mph may be established during appropriate times in school zones. A neighborhood association must submit a request in writing to the Transportation Bureau with the assumption that the consensus of the neighborhood agrees. To change a speed limit on any other roadway, you must request in writing to the Transportation Bureau for an engineering study.

Who do I call about dead animals in the roadway? On County roads, call Calvert County Highway Maintenance at 410-535-0905; after hours call (410) 535-3491. On state roads call the State Highway Maintenance Office at 410-535-1748. Calvert County Highway Maintenance will pick up dead animals if they are within the County right-of-way. If outside the right-of-way, it is the responsibility of the property owner.

Who should I call about a dispute over shared access? If the dispute is the result of new construction activity, you may contact the Engineering Division at 410-535-2204. If the shared access is already established, it is a civil matter to be handled by private legal representation. 

Is it possible to have a second entrance to my property? According to the County Road Ordinance, residential lots are allowed one entrance onto County roads. A variance may be granted on a case-by-case basis with adequate justification and consideration given to the road classification and traffic conditions. Contact the Engineering Division to review your request at 410-535-2204.

How can we get a "Slow Children at Play" sign? Calvert County, as mandated by the state of Maryland, has ceased installation of this type of sign. They provide no guidance to motorists in terms of safe speed, and have no legal basis for determining what a motorist should do. Children should not be playing in the roadway and a jurisdiction posting such a sign is vulnerable to tort liability since it could imply that the jurisdiction approves of streets as playgrounds.