ROCHESTER – The long-term construction project that is County Road could get federal funding, if a joint town reclassification attempt is successful.

Rochester Town Administrator Mike McCue received approval to continue efforts to reclassify County Road as an “urban collector” that would make much needed funds for upgrades available.

On Jan. 11, Rochester Selectmen approved Rochester Town Administrator Mike McCue’s request to keep working with officials in Wareham and Marion to seek the change, which – if granted – would make the 5.5-mile road eligible for federal funding.

With potholes that resemble craters, frequent flooding and no major reconstruction done in 40 years, residents in both Wareham and Marion say traveling and living on the road is annoying, hazardous and expensive.

On Jan. 6, McCue met with Wareham Selectman Alan Slavin, Marion Selectman Jon Henry and officials from the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District. Known as SRPEDD, the agency offers planning assistance for transportation, economic and other issues to area cities and towns.

At the meeting, McCue said officials learned that recent traffic counts are high enough to pursue reclassification.

McCue also noted there is flexibility regarding federal guidelines that were previously cause for concern, such as road width requirements.

“In Rochester and Wareham if you expand [the road] too far you’re taking away peoples' living rooms,” McCue said. “There is some flexibility to that requirement.”

In light of that, McCue said the three towns unofficially agreed to move forward with the reclassification process.

There is one caveat, though.

Should County Road receive the designation other roads would have to be declassified under the federal list.

In Wareham’s case, according to a 2012 SRPEDD report, Glen Charlie Road would lose its status as an urban collector road.

Town Administrator Derek Sullivan did not return request for comment.