Thurmont Secures $1.5 Million Grant for Emmitsburg Road Flooding Project
Two stormwater basins and drainage improvements are planned to address recurring backyard flooding affecting about 10 homes.
HERE'S WHAT WE KNOW
The state grant totals $1.5 million. The project calls for two stormwater basins, channel improvements and culvert work beneath Emmitsburg Road. The town expects to contribute another $185,000 after spending $190,000 on engineering and design.
Thurmont has secured a $1.5 million state grant to address recurring flooding along Emmitsburg Road, advancing a project intended to give nearby residents relief during heavy rain.
The award comes from the Maryland Water Infrastructure Financing Administration, according to The Frederick News-Post. Town officials describe the area as the municipality’s last major location with an unresolved recurring flooding problem.
About 10 homes in the road’s 100 block have experienced significant backyard flooding during heavy rain, according to the supplied project summary.
The planned work includes two stormwater retention basins: one behind the Sheetz on North Church Street and another on town-owned property at 99 Radio Lane. Improvements to the existing stormwater channel and culverts beneath Emmitsburg Road are also part of the project.
The goal is to capture runoff and release it more gradually, reducing the rush of water toward affected properties. The planned improvements are intended to manage stormwater; they do not establish that flooding will be eliminated in every storm.
The grant requires a local contribution. The supplied summary lists $190,000 already spent on engineering and design, with another $185,000 in cash expected toward construction. Together, those amounts represent $375,000 in town contributions.
The summary says bidding was expected to begin within about four weeks of the underlying report. That estimate describes the anticipated start of procurement, rather than a confirmed construction start or completion date.
WHAT IT MEANS
For residents dealing with repeated backyard flooding, the grant provides funding for planned drainage improvements. The next practical milestone is the bidding process. A construction schedule and the project’s performance during future storms remain separate questions from the funding award.
Original reporting referenced by Everything Frederick:
The Frederick News-Post — reporting by Erik Anderson. Project details adapted from the supplied news summary; original report identified and grant information checked against its accessible introduction. →Want more Frederick updates like this?
Get local alerts, event reminders, restaurant openings, sports news, giveaways, live show updates, and community stories from Everything Frederick. Want to talk about what’s happening? Join the Frederick Connect community too.
