Evolution Of The Program to Protect Frederick County’s Rural Roads

In 1977 there were more than 300 miles of gravel road in Frederick County, almost one quarter of all county maintained roads at that time.

In 1996 the Frederick County Roads Board requested that the Board of County Commissioners adopt a gravel roads program to protect the 140 miles of gravel roads. The proposal was not adopted, but interest in preserving rural roads continued.

In 2000, in response to another Roads Board request, the Board of County Commissioners asked the Department of Public Works to explore the idea of a rural roads program and come up with a proposal.

The Friends of Rural Roads believes the rural roads in Frederick County are valuable assets that belong to all residents, and their character and adjacent landscape should be preserved for the quality of life, environmental benefits, multi-use functions, and tourism value they provide.

Our gravel roads are county gems – a combination of quiet majestic nature and a walk back in time to a simpler place. Many of these roads meander along the county’s streams giving the traveler an opportunity to see, smell, and hear some of the quiet treasures that still abound.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both…
l took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
– Robert Frost