I read the one-sided governmental perspective point of view article, “Water pipeline is worth delays” in the September 2024 issue by Joe Murchison. “Small bottlenecks and small sacrifices” is clearly inaccurate. I guess gas leaks, sewage backups, million dollar excess in expenditures, day-to-day traveling on a road that was poorly repaired, disrupting school and everyone’s life and yes, the two year delay in completion are small? This defies believability. I live on this road and live it everyday.
There are inaccuracies in the article, as it is assumed that the construction was finished Aug. 29. The reality is that the project continued to be delayed, was still in construction and, as of this writing, will be further delayed until the third week of October. The right-of-way where the contractor is working is still a mess.
Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) and Alan Meyer Construction Company are now going into its fifth year of construction for the 48th Patuxent Raw Water Pipeline along Brooklyn Bridge and Bond Mill roads in West Laurel This project has been marred by several incidents, cost overruns, years of delays in implementation and business process, technical, resource and change management/mismanagement. Furthermore, even though there are state and county representatives that actually live in West Laurel, they lack the will to file a complaint with the state’s Office of Legislative Audit to fully examine this project. I have filed such a complaint after extensive discussions with WSSC’s executives. While things have gotten much better with the new engineering leadership, our community deserves and demands better service reflected by the high rates that we pay. It is time for accountability and repairing the scars of this project. This would include paving Bond Mill Road with a popcorn asphalt material and technique, and the planting of 1,000 flowering trees.
I guess the theme of Joe’s article is who is really benefiting from this project? West Laurel has had water service for over 70 years. This new source of water is for development of housing/businesses in Northern Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, not for West Laurel, certainly. As a result of this project, West Laurel has been seriously damaged by this boondoggle and none of this was mentioned in the article. Both sides of the issues should have been explored and were not, in my opinion. I believe the article should be rewritten or retracted, as it is not in keeping with any journalistic standards or should have been described as an op-ed. Being an apologist for poor government service should not be the purpose of an Independent newspaper.
Paul Gentile
West Laurel
