Annapolis City Council approves $1.8 million in traffic signal, crosswalk renovations at Church Circle

Despite receiving only one bid that came in over budget, the Annapolis City Council voted Monday to approve a $1.8 million overhaul of traffic signals and crosswalks at Church Circle, a crucial intersection in downtown Annapolis. The 6-3 vote followed a long presentation from Lisa Grieco, a civil engineer in the city’s Department of Public Works, who argued that after five years of planning, it was time to move forward with the project despite skyrocketing costs. “Public Works deems this a safety issue that cannot be ignored,” Grieco said. “Unfortunately we received only a single bid.” That bid, from Glen Burnie contractor Scott A. Duncan, came in at $1.6 million, double the projected construction estimate. A company spokesperson said he could not explain the high cost and the company’s owner was not available Tuesday.