Maryland has a soft spot for turtles. Not only is the turtle the mascot of the state's College Park-based university, it is a symbol of the high level of environmental stewardship demanded on its transportation projects. On the state's $478.5-million Intercounty Connector Contract A project, the design-build team instituted a turtle management plan that saved and relocated more than 400 eastern box turtles during the nearly four-year construction schedule.
In compliance with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources' turtle collecting permit, an annual report was submitted documenting all turtles collected, marked, released or relocated at the end of each calendar year. The turtle program is just one element of a project that pushed for excellence in environmental stewardship across the entire six-lane, 7.2-mile highway's path. “This project had the most stringent environmental requirements that I've ever seen,” says Gene Kelley, regional manager for Granite Construction.