Northpark Ditch Repair Half Done

Update: 6PM Thursday 2/17/22. After I posted the article below on Thursday morning, MoCo returned and finished the job on Thursday afternoon. Use the post below only for context.

Last Saturday night, Montgomery County closed Northpark Drive to excavate the ditch in the median between Northpark Drive and Russell-Palmer Road. Here’s a nighttime video Precinct 4 Commissioner Metts’ posted on his Facebook page to promote the results. It contains eleven minutes of close-up shots of a backhoe scooping dirt into a truck, complete with a triumphant, pounding music track. You’d think this was MoCo’s moon shot!

What Video Doesn’t Show

At daybreak, it became clear, the county cleaned out the ditch between Russell-Palmer and the Kingwood Diversion Ditch, not 494. County crews DID clear blocked drains leading into the ditch west of Russell-Palmer. But they left the dirt piled on the sides of the ditch where it can slump back down and re-block drains.

*Looking west along Northpark toward Dunkin’ Donuts and Public Storage.*

*Facing same direction from the other side of the crossover shows the “improvement” to drainage.*

*Still looking east toward Russell-Palmer from the Kings Mill Entrance.*

“Git ‘Er Done”

I called Metts’ office earlier this week and asked whether they intended to finish the job. The receptionist told me she would have someone call me back to discuss the project. No one ever did. Then Metts posted the “Conquering Earth” video.

I’m grateful for what Metts’ team did do. But I’m also fearful of what they didn’t do.

Metts’ followup post makes no mention of a timetable for finishing the job.

Please! In the immortal words of Larry the Cable Guy, “Git ‘er done!” This is one way people and businesses flood.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 2/17/22

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