Evening star., 1950-08-16
New Road Code
For Montgomery
VotedbyCounciI
Stringent Regulutins
Will Apply to Curbs,
Sidewalks and Cutters

A comprehensive road con-
struction code, described by
officials as one of the most
stringent. in Maryland, is in
effect today in Montgomery
County.
Adopted yesterday by the
County Council, the code requires
sidewalks, curbs and cutters
along all new streets with GER
tain exceptions, and compels
builders to post bonds guarantee
ing satisfactory completion OF
road work.
Exempted from it's provisions,
as contained in a 35-page ord
nance, are roads in incorpor-
ated towns or special taxing areas.
those owned by the State and
Federal Government or under the
Jurisdiction of the Maryland ,
National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission and private
roads.
In a statement accompanying
the ordinance, the council said
the code is designed to correct
abuses, to guarantee to the tax
payer the utmost for his road
maintenance dollar and to the
homeowner, freedom from early
breakdown of the road in front
of his home"
Road Inspectors Added.
To help carry out the program.
the council said it has authorized
the employment of additional
road inspectors, bringing the total
on hand to IS.
The group pointed out that the
old road code. adopted in 1946.
applied only to the suburban dis
trict and permitted the paving
of roads to. a width of as little as
18 feet, with no curbs, cutters
or sidewalks.
Under that code" the council
declared, "a road could be built
less than full width, without
adequate storm drainage, OF poor
base materials, partial grading OF
the right-of-way and with no
guarantee to the taxpayers that
the road would be completed or
that it would last a reasonable
time after acceptance by the
county"
The county's population growth
during the last decade, coupled
with the postwar building boom.
reflected an imperative and ever
increasing need for sensible and
progressive subdivision road plan
ming and the adoption of adequate
regulations to control road con-
struotion." the council said.
Code Represents Compromise.
The new code represents COM
promise with proposals advanced
by the council last spring, which
aroused strong opposition from
builders.
At that time. the proposed code
called for square curbs and gut
ters, 5-foot sidewalks and trees
in all new subdivision. It also
provided for a minimum 28-foot
paved width on secondary streets.
completion bonds and grading to
the full width of the right-of-
way. 1t prohibited the use Of
bank gravel.
The new code permits rolled
curbS on residential streets, with
square curbs at intersections and
requires 4-foot sidewalks and
completion bonds.
The tree requirement is elm
mated, while the minimum paving
width is reduced to Is feet. Build
erS still must grade new roads to
the full width of the right-of-way
so feet on secondary residential
streets and 20 feet on primary
streets. The latter must be paved
10 a WlQCIl Oh 90 1eeI.
In addition, the use of bank
gravel is permitted if it meets re-
vised specifications.
Sidewalks are not required.
however. on secondary streets in
the suburban area if a majority
of the lots are at least 10 feet wide.
and no curbs. cutters or sidewalks
are required outside the suburban
district if most of the lots fall
under the same width provision.
The following provisions may be
waived by the council after a pub
lie hearing: Sidewalks, curbs and
cutters outside the suburban dis
trict. no matter how wide the lots
are, and the right-of-way grading
and paving widths.
In contrast with the old code,
which recognized only two types
Of roads, the new ordinance sets
up seven different classes. They
are:
Business district roads, arterial.
rural, primary residential, sec
residential, dual-lane roads
and alleys.